Vier studies van roze en blauwe bloemen 1677 - 1755

Elias van Nijmegen created this watercolor study of pink and blue flowers sometime around the late 17th or early 18th century. Floral studies like this one were very popular in the Netherlands during this period. They reflect the country’s economic and social history. Following the Dutch Golden Age, when the Netherlands dominated international trade, a new wealthy merchant class emerged. These merchants decorated their homes with flower paintings, tapestries, and gardens. These were symbols of prosperity, and also became powerful vehicles of self-promotion. Although floral displays appear innocent, they also indicate a culture that has the wealth and power to import rare and precious objects from all over the world. If we look closely, we can examine nursery catalogs, trade records, and other archival documents to learn more about the social forces that shaped Dutch art and society.