Het verdorde en stervende actieboompje, 1720 1697 - 1720

This etching, "Het verdorde en stervende actieboompje," by Pieter van den Berge, depicts a small tree, likely a tulip tree, amidst a landscape. This work, created between 1697 and 1720, is a striking example of the Dutch Golden Age tradition of botanical illustration. Its intricate details and symbolic imagery, including the tree’s wilting foliage, likely reference themes of mortality and the fleeting nature of life. This etching, housed in the Rijksmuseum, is a testament to the meticulous artistry of the Dutch Golden Age and its enduring fascination with the natural world.