Javaanse bloem 'cambang matjang' Possibly 1784 - 1786

This is Jan Brandes’ 1784 botanical illustration of the Javanese 'cambang matjang' flower. The painting captures the essence of the exotic flora of Java, showcasing an orchid whose petals display a striking pattern reminiscent of a tiger’s stripes, or ‘matjang’ in Javanese. The tiger motif is significant; it is a powerful symbol of strength and protection, and also alludes to the exotic allure of the East. Across cultures, the tiger appears in various mythologies, embodying primal forces and the untamed aspects of nature. Think of the ancient cults where animal attributes were integrated into deities to imbue them with potency and mystique. Consider how this translates here: the orchid, typically seen as delicate, is imbued with the tiger’s power. It is as though the flower, through this association, taps into the reservoir of collective memory linked to the tiger. This infuses the depiction with a psychological charge, beyond mere botanical interest, touching something primal within us. The image thus transcends its immediate context.