Lagartas, insetos e folhagem
1705-1771
Maria Sibylla Merian was a 17th-century scientific rockstar who ditched the Netherlands to travel to the jungles of Suriname, risking malaria and snakes just to draw bugs. This plate from her famous 1705 book shows a sweet guava plant ('guajava alba dulcis') hosting a chaotic insect family reunion. You can trace the full life cycle here: fuzzy caterpillars devouring the leaves, a pupa resting on the stem, and the adult moths and butterflies emerging. Before Merian, Europeans thought insects just magically appeared from mud, but she proved the magic of metamorphosis was real biology.
- Technique
- hand-colored engraving
- Material
- paper