Tulp 1799 - 1801

Pierre François Legrand made this print of a tulip using etching and engraving techniques. In the 17th century, the tulip became a sensation in the Netherlands, a commodity so desirable that single bulbs were valued at astronomical prices. This print may not be from that time, but it evokes that peculiar period of speculation. This particular print, with its close and careful observation, captures something of the tulip's allure as an object of scientific study, as well as an aesthetic object. The fashion for tulips was a powerful social phenomenon with its own visual codes. Dutch still life painting from the period featured tulips as emblems of wealth and taste. One might explore these images to better understand the social history of the flower itself. Only with this understanding, can we grasp its symbolism in works such as this.