Iris mit Wolfsmilchschwärmer, Tulpe mit Schwalbenschwanz, Anemone 

Curator: Here we have a rather captivating botanical drawing in graphite, chalk and watercolour from the Städel Museum's collection. It’s entitled “Iris mit Wolfsmilchschwärmer, Tulpe mit Schwalbenschwanz, Anemone.” Editor: It has a strikingly calm, almost scientific air about it. The way the individual plants are positioned centrally, set against that plain background, elevates them into something deserving of careful study. The colours are muted, soft, natural – as if to say: here they are in their quiet reality. Curator: Exactly. The artist seems intent on showing us the interplay between flora and fauna, an enchanted yet fleeting moment in nature. The juxtaposition between the moth and iris, butterfly and tulip, even the unfurling anemone, hints at the cyclical nature of life. What thoughts arise for you in connection to it? Editor: There's a beautiful balance between observation and a kind of Baroque flourish. It adheres, on one hand, to this notion of objectivity; on the other hand, that central tulip seems so opulent. The curves of the petals, the butterfly poised there so elegantly – they provide a hint of dramatic tension in the whole arrangement. Curator: True. The tulip in particular serves as a subtle reminder of the Dutch Golden Age’s “tulip mania,” evoking notions of prosperity, fleeting beauty and perhaps even fragility. One almost senses an attempt to capture time itself, to freeze these transient interactions for posterity. Editor: Yes. The use of watercolor seems key here. It renders the colors delicate and somewhat ephemeral. See how the light glances off the butterfly's wings, or even just the subtle gradations on the tulip leaf. It creates a feeling of immediacy; a glimpse of life captured at its most vibrant but also most transient. Curator: The piece certainly encourages contemplation about life's inherent impermanence. Its gentle precision underscores the constant negotiation between nature and existence itself. Editor: Agreed. Its structure reminds me of how beauty can be found when stillness permeates observations.