Bloembol before 1893

Willem Wenckebach made this study of a flower bulb, or "Bloembol" in Dutch, using pen and ink on paper. The drawing's stark lines capture the bulb's form with precision, highlighting its layered structure and the delicate roots extending downwards. Wenckebach's choice of simple materials emphasizes the inherent qualities of his subject: a contrast between the bulb's potential and the delicate, almost fragile state of its roots. Drawings such as this were often used for scientific study. They are tied to a wider cultural movement of detailed observation and documentation that allowed an aesthetic appreciation for botanical specimens. The work also reflects a labor of careful, patient looking, and celebrates the underlying structure and beauty found in the natural world, revealing a connection to labor and the cycle of growth. It asks us to consider the artistry inherent in both nature and representation.