The tulip has never meant just one thing.

At first glance, it is simply a striking flower — upright, vivid, unmistakable. Yet in art, its meaning has shifted over time and across places. As it moved through courts, gardens, and studios, artists reframed it again and again.

In different contexts, the tulip becomes ornament, specimen, possession, or atmosphere.

Discover the Dutch Golden Age painter who inspired The Met’s “Bouquet of Flowers “collection. Peeters was a founding figure in the European history of the still life. Her contribution to the art world is significant, not only for her exquisite paintings but also because she carved out a space for herself in a field that was largely male-dominated at the time.

The famed Tulip Stairs in Greenwich's Queen's House are an architectural marvel, but there’s been a long-standing debate about the design of the iron balustrade that embraces this staircase. Are they tulips or the traditional fleur-de-lys?⁠

A brief overview of the differences between two of the most iconic modern art movements.

Advancements in X-ray technology have revealed secret underpainting in famous works of art.