Iris pallida (bleg iris); Iris variegata (broget iris) 1635 - 1664

This is a watercolor and gouache on paper of two irises, made by Hans Simon Holtzbecker in the 17th century. Holtzbecker was working during a period when botanical illustration was highly valued, both as a scientific tool and as an art form. The intense detail with which Holtzbecker renders the two irises speaks to the cultural and scientific interests of his time. The iris, named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow, often symbolizes faith, hope, wisdom, courage, and admiration. The white iris pallida on the left and the yellow iris variegata on the right, with their delicate shading, invite us to consider the intersection of art, science, and symbolism in the 17th century. In Holtzbecker’s meticulous depiction, we might contemplate the complex relationship between humans and nature, between the objective pursuit of scientific knowledge and the subjective experience of beauty and meaning.