Artwork

Tradescantia virginiana eller Tradescantia ohiensis (?) (blomsterjøde)

Tradescantia virginiana eller Tradescantia ohiensis (?) (blomsterjøde) is an unspecified work on paper by Unknown. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1650, this botanical illustration—attributed to the artist catalogued as 35199_person—depicts a single stem bearing two contrasting flowers. The work is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography and is presented as a digital image. Its composition isolates the plant against an unadorned background, emphasizing the delicate forms of the blossoms and foliage.

Subject & Meaning

The image shows a slender stem supporting a blue flower with minute yellow specks at the petal centers and a neighboring white flower with a softly textured appearance. Long, gently undulating leaves in a pale green frame the blossoms. The juxtaposition of the two hues may reflect an interest in botanical variety and the visual study of plant morphology.

Technique & Style

Rendered with meticulous attention to detail, the illustration employs a watercolor-like approach that captures the translucency of the petals and the subtle veining of the leaves. Fine brushwork conveys the texture of the white flower’s fuzziness and the precise placement of the yellow dots within the blue petals, suggesting a scientific rather than decorative intent.

History & Provenance

The piece dates to the mid‑17th century, a period when European naturalists increasingly documented flora for scholarly purposes. It entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings as part of its ethnobotanical collection, where it serves as a visual record of early plant illustration practices.