Dimensions: height 95 mm, width 132 mm
Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain
Jan van Kessel created this ‘Sheet of Studies of Nine Insects’ using watercolor on paper. The composition is simple. A seemingly random assortment of insects is scattered across the page. Yet, there is a clear intention in the layout. Van Kessel has carefully positioned each insect to maximize visual interest and balance. Notice the contrast between the detailed rendering of the insects and the blank background. It forces us to focus on the forms and textures of each creature. In the 17th century, such studies were often part of a larger scientific curiosity. However, Van Kessel’s approach moves beyond mere documentation. The precision and artistry suggest an interest in the aesthetic qualities of these tiny beings. This elevates the work from scientific record to a reflection on natural beauty. Consider how the arrangement and the artist’s attention to detail invite us to contemplate the complexity and wonder of the natural world.
Comments
With an almost scientific sense of accuracy, Jan van Kessel drew various sorts of beetles, flies and butterflies and even a caterpillar on this sheet. He relied on illustrations in scientific books on entomology as well as the actual insects themselves. He did not restrict himself to spectacularly coloured exotic insects, for this drawing also features an ordinary housefly and a small cabbage white butterfly.
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