Plate 23: Hummingbird Hawk Moth, Butterflies, and Other Insects around a Snowberry Sprig c. 1575 - 1580

Joris Hoefnagel rendered this image of a Hummingbird Hawk Moth, butterflies, and other insects around a snowberry sprig with watercolor and gouache around the turn of the 17th century. Hoefnagel, working as a court artist during the late Renaissance, served powerful, wealthy patrons who sought elaborate, naturalistic depictions of the world they dominated. The very act of observing and documenting nature through art became a symbol of power, reflecting the patron's ability to possess and control knowledge of the natural world. The detailed, almost scientific, approach to portraying these insects can be viewed through our contemporary understanding of the scientific gaze, one which seeks to categorize and control its subject. These images also reflect a cultural milieu steeped in symbolism, where each insect and plant held allegorical meaning. Consider how these detailed renderings, intended for private collections, shaped and reinforced early modern understandings of nature. How might the convergence of art, science, and power affect our own perception of the natural world?