A Poppy in Three Stages of Flowering, with a Caterpillar, Pupa and Butterfly

Art Historical Context

In the late 17th to early 18th century Johanna Helena Herolt ( Graff) created this exquisite *A Poppy in Three Stages Flowering, with a Caterpillar, Pupa and Butterfly*, a masterful watercolor and gouache drawing heightened with traces of black chalk. 15 3/16 x 11 13/16 inches, it captures a single poppy bloom progressing from bud to full flower and seed pod, accompanied by a caterpillar, pupa, and—symbolizing the parallel cycles of plant and insect life. The delicate red petals, veined leaves, and textured insects invite viewers to marvel at nature's precision. This work exemplifies the era's fascination with scientific natural history, particularly in the Netherlands, where detailed botanical and entomological studies bridged art and emerging botany. Herolt's technique—watercolor for luminous translucency and gouache for opacity—allows vibrant poppies to glow against subtle greens, while the black chalk underdrawing ensures anatomical accuracy. Such illustrations aided scholars and collectors in documenting the natural world before photography. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this piece highlights women's contributions to specialized genres like flower painting. It reminds us how art once served science, turning observation into timeless beauty. (198 words)