Plate 51: Two Sand Lizards, a Common Parsley Frog(?), and a Caterpillar c. 1575 - 1580

Joris Hoefnagel made this watercolor and gouache painting around 1575-1600. The composition presents a microcosm of nature encapsulated within a precise oval frame. The focal point is the detailed rendering of various small animals. The careful distribution of weight creates a sense of balance, the textures of the animals' skins and the rough bark contrast, yet they harmonize through a muted palette of browns, greens, and grays. The composition feels both scientific and artistic, and the arrangement reflects the symbolic order that was characteristic of the time. Hoefnagel destabilizes the traditional hierarchy between art and science. He merges empirical observation with artistic representation. It prompts us to question how we categorize knowledge and art, and it challenges the boundaries between disciplines. The oval format adds another layer, framing the natural world as a contained, almost curated collection of specimens. The interplay of form and content here creates a visual encyclopedia, inviting us to interpret nature through the lens of both art and science.