Spider

Description

This green spider hex tile reproduces a natural history study painted between 1690 and 1700 by Dutch draughtsman Jan Augustin van der Goes. It’s part of a tradition of close, patient insect and arachnid studies that Dutch artists were especially known for during that period.

The spider sits centered against a soft, chalky green background, rendered leg by leg with real anatomical care. You can see the banding on each leg, the fine hairs, the pale cream markings across its back. It’s not stylized or softened for decoration. It’s a scientist’s level of attention applied with a painter’s hand, which is part of why these studies still hold up centuries later.

I know spiders aren’t for everyone, and that’s fine. But there’s something about the confidence of this piece, no drama, no horror angle, just a creature rendered exactly as it is, that I find genuinely calming rather than creepy. It’s less about the subject and more about the care someone put into looking closely at something most people walk past.

This one’s a good pick for a nature-focused gallery wall, a home office, or anyone who collects natural history illustration specifically. Pair it with other pieces in the collection for contrast, or hang it solo if you want a small, quiet conversation starter. Frame it with one of my hexagon frames, or browse other hexagon accessories.

Available from 1.5 inches up to 18 inches.