White Iris (Iris albicans) c. 1674 - 1695

Pieter Withoos created this delicate representation of a ‘White Iris’ using watercolor and graphite. The iris stands alone, centrally composed, its pale petals and slender stem sharply contrasting with the off-white background. Notice how Withoos masterfully uses subtle gradations of color. What appears at first glance as a simple white flower is actually a sophisticated interplay of whites, grays, and soft yellows. The structure of the iris, too, invites closer inspection; the petals unfurl with a gentle asymmetry, conveying a sense of organic growth and natural variation. The artist's attention to botanical detail suggests a scientific interest, but it also elevates the artwork to a symbolic plane. The Iris, named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow, becomes a signifier of beauty and the ephemerality of nature itself. Consider how the drawing, through its structural harmony and delicate rendering, transcends mere representation, inviting contemplation on the poetics of form and the unseen orders of the natural world.