Study of a Tulip (Anvaers)
1645
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1645
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
You see a single tulip, petals striped red and white, drawn on a small sheet of paper. This wasn’t just a pretty flower—it was a status symbol. In 1600s Holland, rare striped tulips sold for crazy prices, sometimes more than a house. The stripes came from a virus, making each bloom one-of-a-kind. Growers hired artists like Holsteyn to document their prized flowers in books, almost like trading cards for the rich. If you want to see more of these strange, beautiful blooms, look up subject: netherlands.
