Drie tijgerlelies 1878 - 1938

Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst made this ink drawing, titled 'Three Tiger Lilies'. Holst was not only an artist, but also a socialist, and his political beliefs deeply influenced his artistic choices. Holst lived through a period of significant social change and industrial expansion in the Netherlands. His art often reflected the traditional representations of beauty and nature that were being threatened by rapid industrialization. The tiger lilies, with their striking and exotic appearance, become symbols of a delicate beauty. Consider the emotional tension, which is woven into the simplicity of the drawing, between nature's resilience and its vulnerability to societal changes. The choice of such a distinctive flower invites us to reflect on the complexities of identity in a changing world. Holst urges us to find harmony and balance in our own lives.