Twee tulpen met sprinkhaan 1637

Jacob Marrel created "Two Tulips with a Grasshopper" using watercolor on paper. While undated, it's important to consider the cultural phenomenon of "Tulip Mania" in the 17th-century Dutch Golden Age. The tulip, originally from Turkey, became a status symbol and a speculative investment. Some bulbs were rarer because their striking colors were caused by a virus. People paid exorbitant prices, and the market eventually crashed. Marrel, as a flower painter, would have been deeply embedded in this culture of both beauty and economic risk. The painting invites reflection on desire, value, and fragility. The grasshopper is not merely a detail; it serves as a symbolic reminder of the ephemeral nature of beauty and wealth. It's a “memento mori,” a reminder of the fleeting nature of life. This image reflects the intense emotional and financial investment tied to these flowers, while subtly hinting at their inevitable decline.