Plate 46: Stone Martin, Chimpmunk, and Moles with a Marigold and Lettuce c. 1575 - 1580

Joris Hoefnagel painted this watercolor and gouache on vellum, teeming with life. We see a stone martin perched on a branch, a chipmunk nibbling beside a lettuce, and moles burrowing near a marigold. Consider the marigold, its face turned to the sun, a symbol of resilience and warmth. Yet, across cultures, the marigold carries diverse meanings. In ancient Rome, it was associated with mourning and death, while in Hinduism, it adorns gods and signifies auspicious beginnings. This duality reveals the complex dance of memory and symbol, as the marigold resurfaces through centuries. The animals themselves, each in their own way, are connected with death. But the marigold, even in its association with the underworld, blooms brightly, representing a powerful force that connects us on a deep, subconscious level, engaging with the cyclical progressions of life and death.