Tulipa gesneriana (have-tulipan) 1635 - 1664

Hans Simon Holtzbecker rendered these tulips with watercolor and gouache on paper. These are traditional art materials but here they are deployed to document natural specimens. The intense detail of the rendering speaks to the close observation necessary in both botanical illustration and scientific study. The materiality of the image—the paper support, the carefully applied pigments—lends itself to a sense of precision. The artist’s hand is evident in the delicate brushwork, building up layers of color to mimic the textures and subtle gradations of the petals and leaves. In Holtzbecker’s time, the tulip was a luxury commodity, sparking speculative frenzy. This image, far from being a neutral record, is a testament to that cultural moment. The intense labor involved in cultivating these exotic specimens is mirrored in the meticulousness of the painting, linking the natural world with systems of labor and value.