Lilium martagon (krans-lilje); Lilium pyrenaicum (pyrenæisk lilje) 1649 - 1659

Here, Hans Simon Holtzbecker meticulously renders two lilies in ink and watercolor. The lily, a symbol of purity and resurrection, carries a heavy weight. Since antiquity, this flower has appeared in countless artistic and religious contexts. Think of the white lily held by the Virgin Mary in countless Annunciation scenes, a visual echo of innocence and divine favor. Yet, even earlier, we find the lily, or its likeness, in Minoan frescoes, symbolizing royalty and power. The emotional resonance of the lily lies in its paradoxical nature: it emerges from the dark earth, pushing towards the light, echoing our own psychological journey from the subconscious to consciousness. This tension, this striving, speaks to a deep-seated human experience. Thus, the lily's journey is not linear but cyclical, resurfacing in different guises, each time imbued with new layers of meaning.