Two Grasshoppers
c. 1685
Watercolor and opaque watercolor, with pen and brown ink, over traces of graphite, on vellum, laid down on ivory laid paper, with pen and brown ink on paper verso
11.9 × 14.3 cm (4.7 × 5.6 in)
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Not currently on view
In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026
Discussion
FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG
Herman Henstenburgh was one among several Dutch artists who created scientifically accurate descriptions of plants and insects, in this case representing a member of the grasshopper species. The artist chose the relatively expensive support of vellum, a prepared calf’s skin historically used for illuminated manuscripts, to which he applied watercolors and ink over a carefully considered preliminary drawing executed in graphite.
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