Study of a red catchfly (Lychnis hirsuta) 1680

Curator: Oh, my! A rather subdued yet captivating plant study. The "Study of a Red Catchfly (Lychnis hirsuta)," dating back to 1680. It comes to us courtesy of Herman Saftleven II. You’ll find this piece done with watercolor and ink. What's grabbing your attention right off the bat? Editor: Hmm, something melancholic, I think. The leaves have a worn look, like aged hands. The reds, almost dusky…and the overall effect, it's as though the artist is hinting at something beyond mere observation. It is though each leaf has been loved and now almost fading away like the colours of old memories. Curator: That interpretation resonates profoundly when we consider the context of the Dutch Golden Age, a time of intense scientific exploration, spurred in part by overseas trade and colonialism. Saftleven, along with many of his contemporaries, was captivated by the natural world, but his meticulous depictions served both scientific and artistic purposes. The botanical drawing became increasingly recognized as a tool for communicating this fascination. The artist did well not only studying how light fell on each surface but to use light as a tool to guide viewers how to read into this study. Editor: That’s so fascinating! There’s almost a contradictory impulse present. I am feeling so fragile yet enduring. Curator: Exactly! You hit the bullseye. I can see how such drawings offered an understanding but also an ownership, given this increased understanding that they created of our botanical world, which also makes me wonder whether such art would have had similar effects if it has been created with oil on panel or with other artistic approaches. And how would this intention of possessing the beauty and essence of the plants interact with those different approaches. Editor: It is true that even if you study hard and learn everything in our realm. Time changes everything in our human perspective. In this piece Saftleven manages to transcend these perspectives by bringing the life and emotion into play and not just technique. What did people at the time feel when faced with this level of mastery. The colour and technique give life to this botanical subject and transforms this artwork in something deeper that could exist in any timeline of our life. Curator: Well, I think on that rather beautiful note, perhaps we can move on to our next piece. Thanks so much. Editor: My pleasure!