Tulipa gesneriana (have-tulipan) 1635 - 1664

Hans Simon Holtzbecker made this watercolor of Tulipa gesneriana, or garden tulip, likely in the mid-17th century. The medium is deceptively straightforward. While watercolor on paper is indeed a traditional technique, here it transcends mere representation. Holtzbecker applied his skill to the creation of a kind of symbolic document. At the time, the tulip was newly arrived in Europe, and particularly prized in the Netherlands. It's no exaggeration to say that 'tulip mania' swept the country. The flowers were traded at wildly inflated prices, and were emblems of wealth and status. This image, then, is more than just a pretty picture. It's an artifact of global commerce, and of the status that could attach to this imported luxury. In that respect, it’s a reminder that all aesthetic choices are embedded in real economic conditions. It challenges the conventional idea that fine art exists in a realm apart from everyday life.