Muscari comosum (fjerhyacint); Scilla autumnalis (høst-skilla); Hyacinthoides italica (italiensk klokkeskilla); Muscari macrocarpum (gul perlehyacint) 1649 - 1659

Hans Simon Holtzbecker painted these four hyacinths around the mid-17th century, capturing their delicate forms in watercolor. Note the bulbs of these plants, the symbols of potential, growth, and rebirth. From ancient times, bulbs have been powerful symbols of the cyclical nature of life. Consider their presence in the Eleusinian Mysteries, where the sprouting of a seed from the earth mirrored the promise of resurrection. The hyacinth itself, named after the beautiful youth in Greek mythology, Hyakinthos, adds another layer of meaning. We can trace the thread of these botanical motifs through history. Consider the bulb's parallel to the egg or seed in various creation myths. This idea surfaces repeatedly, taking on new forms, such as in the Renaissance paintings where similar botanical elements signify fertility and renewal. Even now, these images resonate, engaging our collective memory and subconscious understanding of nature's cycles. They are a reminder that symbols evolve, yet their core essence remains, resurfacing through the ages.