Dubbelbloemige stokroos 1670 - 1726

Curator: Here we have "Dubbelbloemige stokroos", or "Double Hollyhock", an engraving and print created between 1670 and 1726 by Gerard Valck, residing in the Rijksmuseum's collection. Editor: It's remarkably delicate, almost like a botanical study rendered in lace. The monochrome really focuses the eye on the textures of the petals and leaves. There’s something fragile and enduring about it. Curator: The botanical art of this period reflected a broader interest in natural science, but was also tied to ideas about national identity. Flowers, like tulips, became potent symbols, reflecting economic power and colonial reach. Valck, working during the Dutch Golden Age, would have been aware of the cultural significance of these depictions. Editor: I’m struck by how it captures a specific moment – not just the flower's idealized perfection, but its stage of life. You can almost sense the flower is beginning to droop, on the edge of wilting, and think it tells stories about ephemeral beauty but it is also, subtly, about transience. How did art contribute to our perceptions about nature and our place in it? Curator: The political elements become quite complex, especially when we look at these flower depictions, when situated amongst colonialist politics of extraction and categorization. Editor: These kinds of botanical prints were used in all sorts of contexts, from scientific research to decoration, wasn't it? We're essentially looking at an early form of information dissemination, shaped by particular social values. How accessible would art such as this be for women at the time? And were women producing artwork of this nature at this time, using print or other mediums? Curator: It raises the key issue of how knowledge and representation were and are structured and distributed in any given society. A drawing may appear neutral, however the choice of what is portrayed and what techniques were used can affect viewers conscious and unconsciously. We can see a reflection of a time of growing international connection but that connection was one rooted in violence. Editor: Absolutely. It’s easy to get lost in the delicate beauty, but digging deeper into that social and historical context makes it far richer. This seemingly simple flower reveals much about the world that created it.