Wandering in Pictures · 21 of 24

Butterflies on a Blossom Branch

A sprig of apple blossom lies on a pale table, visited by butterflies, beetles and shells.

Painting · Jan van Kessel the Elder, 1661

A branch of pink and white apple blossom on a pale grey surface, surrounded by butterflies, moths, beetles, blue flowers and seashells.
Jan van Kessel the Elder · Public domain

Let your eyes wander

  1. Begin with the apple blossom branch lying across the middle.
  2. A dark butterfly with red bands has settled right at its tip.
  3. On the left, a small blue butterfly and a yellow one share one bending stem.
  4. Look for the clear drops of water resting on the table and the leaves.
  5. A long-horned beetle walks toward a smooth, glossy shell on the right.
  6. In the lower left corner, a pile of striped and spotted shells waits.
  7. Near the bottom, a tiny red beetle with black spots is crossing the table.
  8. Along the top, two pale moths hold their wings wide open.

There is no last thing to find. Look again wherever your eyes would like to rest, or close them and keep the picture.

Keep going

Nothing here needs finishing. Every door leads somewhere, and the last one is always darker than this.