The painters of the lively and extraordinarily delicate beestjes, “little beasts,” in this richly illustrated book were two of the most successful Flemish artists of the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Joris Hoefnagel, Jan van Kessel, and their contemporaries flourished during a period of colonial expansion shaped by trade and expeditions around the globe. They built their careers on the growing intellectual, scientific, and artistic interest in natural history at that time. Possessing a remarkable curiosity about animals, all manner of insects, and other little beasts, they each created images of such precision that individual species are still easily identified today.

Illustrated with 150 full-color images, this intriguing volume delves into connections between artists, collectors, and naturalists. Little Beasts invites readers to look carefully and with wonder at creatures small and even smaller.