Echeveria Grandiflora 1847

Elisabeth Johanna Koning made this botanical drawing of an Echeveria Grandiflora in an unknown year using watercolour on paper. The composition presents a vertically oriented plant set against a pale backdrop, creating an immediate sense of height and growth. The plant's stem, rendered in subtle shades of green and lavender, leads the eye upward to clusters of delicate, star-shaped flowers. Here, Koning employs a detailed, almost scientific approach, capturing the intricate structures of the plant with precision. Semiotically, the upward direction suggests aspiration and life force, while the flowers, symbols of beauty and fragility, contrast with the sturdier leaves below. Note how the artist balances botanical accuracy with aesthetic appeal, creating not just a record of the plant but also an object of contemplation. The level of detail invites us to consider the hidden structures within natural forms, revealing an underlying order and complexity.