Lilium martagon (krans-lilje) 1635 - 1664

Hans Simon Holtzbecker made this watercolor on vellum of a Lilium martagon, also known as a Turk's cap lily, most likely in the mid-17th century. Holtzbecker lived in a time when the scientific and artistic study of nature was flourishing, yet access to knowledge and resources was highly determined by social standing. Holtzbecker, as a male artist, would have had opportunities unavailable to women. While botanical illustration was one of the few avenues for women to participate in the art world, their contributions were often overlooked or attributed to men. Consider the labor involved in such precise depiction. Holtzbecker painstakingly captured the lily’s delicate petals and intricate spotting. As you look, think about the societal structures that shaped both the creation and reception of this image. The work is not simply a rendering; it is an artifact of its time. This image invites us to consider both the beauty of the natural world and the ways in which social structures affect our understanding and appreciation of it.