A Stalk of Lilies with Six Blooms

Art Historical Context

Philipp Otto Runge’s delicate drawing captures a single stalk of lilies bearing six elegant blooms, rendered with remarkable precision and sensitivity. Created in 1808, the work reflects the early nineteenth-century interest in nature as a source of spiritual and symbolic meaning. Lilies, long associated with purity and renewal, here become a quiet study of form and growth, inviting viewers to appreciate both botanical beauty and deeper resonances. The medium—pen and black ink over graphite on very light green laid paper—allows for fine, expressive lines that trace the curving petals and slen...