Bloeiwijze van een plant c. 1650 - 1676

This delicate drawing shows a variety of flowers and plants made by an anonymous artist. At its heart, the image is composed of irises and tulips, flowers heavy with symbolic meaning. The iris, named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow, has been a symbol of communication and messages, connecting the earthly and divine. Throughout history, the iris has appeared in royal heraldry, religious iconography, and personal emblems. The tulip, originating from Persia and Turkey, became a symbol of wealth and status during the Dutch Golden Age. This ‘tulip mania’ reflected a broader cultural fascination with exoticism, luxury, and the fleeting nature of beauty. The tulip's allure can be seen as a collective obsession, a shared dream of prosperity and beauty that gripped society. The appearance and reappearance of the flowers, whether in religious contexts or personal emblems, highlights a continuous engagement with these symbols. It is as if the collective subconscious seeks to express itself through these universally understood forms. They resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.