Anemone coronaria (fransk anemone) 1635 - 1664

Hans Simon Holtzbecker made this botanical study of anemones in the 17th Century, using watercolor on paper. The choice of watercolor, rather than oil paint, is key. It speaks to a particular kind of labor. Oil would have been seen as more serious, befitting the grand tradition of painting. Watercolor, by contrast, has historically been associated with studies, designs, and the decorative arts. It suggests a lighter touch, and a quicker method. Holtzbecker's careful stippling and layering of washes, which beautifully capture the texture of the petals, rewards close looking. He would have had to work methodically. This approach to the medium implies an aesthetic choice, deliberately positioned outside the conventional hierarchy of art. Holtzbecker elevated the status of botanical illustration at a time when art and craft were strictly divided.