Twee tulpen met vliegende kever en beervlinder 1637

Jacob Marrel made this watercolor on parchment of two tulips with a beetle and a butterfly sometime in the 17th century. It’s difficult to imagine now, but in the Dutch Golden Age, tulips weren't just flowers; they were a symbol of wealth and status. This image captures the visual codes of the time when the Dutch became fascinated with botany and horticulture. This coincided with a period of economic prosperity and expanding global trade networks. The popularity of tulips, particularly those with rare and striking colors, led to a speculative market known as "tulip mania." Marrel's delicate rendering reflects the cultural obsession with these flowers and the institutional practices that were developed to cultivate them. The detailed execution of the insects suggests the influence of scientific illustration. By studying historical documents and market records, we can better understand how something as simple as a flower could reflect the social, economic, and cultural values of the time.