Twee tulpensoorten 1617

Crispijn van de Passe the Younger created this print of two tulips during the height of “Tulip Mania” in the Dutch Golden Age. At this time, tulips were not merely flowers; they were a speculative commodity, a symbol of wealth and status so coveted they incited a financial frenzy. Van de Passe, coming from a family of artists and publishers, was keenly aware of the cultural phenomena surrounding him, and he masterfully captured the delicate beauty of these prized possessions. These tulips were more than just beautiful; they represented the complex intertwining of commerce, desire, and social identity. The print serves as both a botanical record and a mirror reflecting the values of a society obsessed with luxury and novelty. Looking at it now, one might consider how fleeting beauty and material wealth are often conflated, and how such desires can shape not only art but also the course of history.