Study of a Tulip (Perregoen Machieu)
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, painted on a plain background. 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, but buyers didn’t know that. Artists like Holsteyn made these "tulip books" to help growers show off their rarest blooms. If you like this, look up *subject: netherlands* for more on the tulip craze.
