Drie meerkleurige tulpensoorten 1617

This print of three multicolored tulips was made by Crispijn van de Passe the Younger, most likely in the early 17th century. It's an engraving, a process that involves incising lines into a metal plate, inking the surface, and then pressing paper against it to transfer the image. The method is meticulous, and it was exactly this quality that made it ideal for scientific illustration. Note the incredible detail, which captures the variations in tone on the flower petals. This level of precision was highly valued, because these prints served as a vital visual record. Of course, there's a historical context here too. The image reflects the "Tulip Mania" that swept through the Netherlands at this time, when speculation in the tulip market reached fever pitch. In that sense, this image connects to the early modern circuits of global trade, and the emergence of a speculative economy. It's a perfect example of how images of the natural world can also reflect human-made systems of value.