Five Butterflies 1646

Wenceslaus Hollar created this print of five butterflies in 1646. The image is meticulously rendered in fine lines of black ink, a testament to Hollar's skill as a draughtsman and printmaker during the 17th century. Hollar was born in Prague but spent much of his career in England, where he produced numerous prints for wealthy patrons and publishers. This print was made after specimens in the collection of the Earl of Arundel, a prominent art collector and patron of the arts. Such detailed depictions of natural specimens were highly valued during this time, reflecting a growing interest in scientific observation and classification. Aristocratic collections of this kind were expressions of power and the encyclopedic accumulation of status symbols. To fully appreciate this print, we can consult inventories of the Arundel collection, correspondence between Hollar and his patrons, and other historical sources that shed light on the social and cultural context in which it was made.