En eksotisk dagsommerfugl 1600 - 1700

Pieter Holsteijn's 'An Exotic Butterfly' was made in the 17th century, using watercolor and gouache on paper. The vivid colors and meticulous details of the butterfly point to Holsteijn’s skill in rendering natural forms. The butterfly is centrally positioned, its wings outstretched, displaying the striking contrast between the bright blue and the black margins punctuated with white spots. The use of watercolor allows for delicate gradations of color, capturing the iridescence of the insect's wings, while the gouache likely adds opacity and texture. Holsteijn’s choice of subject reflects the burgeoning interest in natural history during the period. This interest was closely tied to global trade and exploration, where the natural world was observed, documented, and brought back to Europe as commodities. The intense labor of scientific and artistic observation is embedded in this work, reflecting both the beauty of the natural world and the social context of its discovery and representation.