1594
gouache
vellum
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Plate 45: Two Long-Headed Grasshoppers(?) is a 1594 gouache by Joris Hoefnagel, a Renaissance work, depicting Insect, held at National Gallery of Art.
This watercolor shows two grasshoppers on a plain background. Their long heads and gold-brown bodies stand out against the off-white parchment. The artist leaves room around them, like they’re posing for a bug portrait. Hoefnagel didn’t just copy insects. He studied them closely, adding fine details like the grasshoppers’ legs and wings. The gold paint catches the light, making the bugs feel almost alive. If you like this style, check out Hoefnagel, Joris.
Joris Hoefnagel or Georg Hoefnagel (1542 – 24 July 1601) was a Flemish painter, printmaker, miniaturist, draftsman and merchant.
See the richer artist page
