Minneapolis Institute of Art

Inflorescence of Banana

After Maria Sibylla Merian; Engraver: Pieter Sluyter (Sluiter)

Date

1705

Medium

Hand colored etching and engraving

Department

European Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

This bold and colorful banana plant is one of Merian's most famous illustrations. Bananas were introduced to the Caribbean in the early sixteenth century and from there spread to other parts of South America. As few Europeans would have tasted these seedless fruits, she described them in detail in Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium: It is used like an apple, and has a pleasant flavor like apples…it is good cooked and raw. When unripe they are green, while the ripe fruit is lemon yellow inside and out; they have a thick skin like a lemon. Germany, Netherlands

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