Tulipa gesneriana (have-tulipan) 1635 - 1664

This is a botanical study of Tulipa gesneriana, or garden tulip, made by Hans Simon Holtzbecker, likely around the mid-17th century. It’s made with watercolor on paper, a traditional medium for the meticulous representation of natural specimens. The tulip’s form is carefully delineated here. Holtzbecker has paid close attention to the way the light reflects off the petals, capturing their velvety texture and vibrant colors. The process is slow and careful, demanding a high degree of skill. But this image isn't just about close observation. During this period, tulips were more than just pretty flowers. They became a speculative commodity in Holland, reaching absurdly high prices before the market crashed. Holtzbecker, who was working in a German court, would have been well aware of the so-called “tulip mania.” The painstaking process of rendering these flowers on paper mirrors the intense focus and speculative energy that surrounded them in the wider world. So, next time you see a tulip, think about the complex story it carries – a story of beauty, skill, and the vagaries of the market.