Polemonium caeruleum (almindelig jakobsstige); Lotus tetragonolobus (aspargesært) 1635 - 1664

Hans Simon Holtzbecker rendered this image of botanical specimens with watercolor and gouache. In the language of flowers, each bloom carries a silent message. The Jacob's Ladder, or Polemonium, speaks of dreams and ascension, a bridge between earth and heaven. Its delicate blue petals echo the celestial vault, a reminder of our longing for transcendence, while the Lotus hints at hidden meanings, veiled in layers of cultural memory. The lotus has surfaced in the art of ancient Egypt and the Far East, each time reborn with a new significance. From a symbol of creation and rebirth to purity and enlightenment, its journey through time is a testament to its enduring power. Such persistent motifs reveal how we, as humans, continually draw from a shared well of symbols, subconsciously weaving them into the fabric of our lives.