Dagkoekoeksbloem en mispel 1617

Crispijn van de Passe the Younger made this print of a dagkoekoeksbloem and a mispel. He was one of a large family of artists and publishers who produced prints across Northern Europe in the 17th century. Images like this one were included in botanical books that sought to document and classify the natural world. In the Dutch Republic, the rise of a wealthy merchant class created a market for luxury goods, including books and prints. The production of detailed botanical illustrations also reflected a growing scientific interest in the natural world. Universities became centers for the study of botany, and wealthy individuals created elaborate gardens to showcase rare and exotic plants. Prints like these were essential for sharing information and establishing the authority and status of their creators. To understand these images better, we might consult seed catalogues, botanical treatises, and inventories of early modern gardens. The meaning of art is always contingent on social and institutional context.