An unexpected gift of caterpillar pupae and the discovery of a translation of Maria’s notes from Suriname propelled Sidman to tell Merian’s story. The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian’s Art Changed Science (2018), offers young readers a chance to learn about this extraordinary woman.
It is fitting that Sidman met Merian in an art museum, as art was a major focus of Merian’s life. Maria’s father and stepfather were successful engravers and artists who taught her to draw and paint at a young age. She eventually became involved in the family business, mixing paints, creating lovely designs, learning to choose materials, etch, and eventually to create her own books.
Artist, businesswoman, wife, mother—these roles would keep most people occupied, but Merian had an overriding passion for the insect world. A true scientist, careful observer, and meticulous researcher, Merian was not dissuaded from studying insects despite living in a time when women were seldom educated and it was actually dangerous for a woman to display too much intellectual interest, especially in “noxious animals.”
In the mid 1600’s, insects were considered pests, and little was understood about their life cycles. Most believed they arose from spontaneous generation, and few people, if any, made the connection between butterflies and caterpillars. Merian figured it out by raising caterpillars, watching them turn into butterflies, and noticing they laid eggs. She also discovered the dependence of insects on particular plants. Often recognized as the first ecologist, Merian also drew beautifully.
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