Troiana Iris (Detail) 

Albrecht Durer made this watercolor of an iris, likely from life, sometime in the early 16th century. Look closely, and you'll see a remarkable level of detail. The thin washes of color, layered meticulously, capture the plant's delicate texture. You can almost feel the velvety surface of the petals. Watercolor, in Durer's hands, wasn't just a medium for preparatory sketches. It was a means of achieving astonishing realism. It took incredible skill to create an image like this. Durer wasn't simply painting what he saw; he was translating nature into art. A process that required an intimate understanding of his materials. Next time you encounter a work of art, consider how the artist's choices about materials and techniques have shaped its meaning and appearance. These choices are never arbitrary, but reflect cultural values and aesthetic priorities.