Stitches, Specimens, and Pictures
Stitches, Specimens, and Pictures
Maria Sibylla Merian and the Processing of the Natural World
This chapter illustrates the professional life of Maria Sibylla Merian who grew up to be skilled in needlework and embroidery as well as artistically trained in the illustration of natural subjects, particularly flowers. This led to her publication of Neues Blumenbuch, a compilation of floral designs which can be used as patterns for embroidery and needlework. Merian was also involved with the study of insects wherein she created a distinct way to visually represent the life cycles of insects, which then resulted to the publication of Raupenbuch, the completion of her study on European moths and butterflies. The chapter also analyzes Merian’s visual style in her other published works such as the Blumenbuch series and Metamorphosis.
Keywords: Maria Sibylla Merian, embroidery, needlework, Neues Blumenbuch, insect studies, Raupenbuch, Blumenbuch series, Metamorphosis
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