Tulipmania is based on the first recorded economic bubble in 1653 in the Netherlands. Tulips began to be traded in the 1630s and the market was so “hot” that fortunes were doubled overnight and they became the most popular “get rich quick” commodity in 17th century Europe, rising to the modern day equivalent of $40,000 per handful of bulbs These excesses could not last, and this period called “Tulipmania” ended. I called my series of brightly colored tulips “Tuipmania” to commemorate that colorful time.

Tulipmania was shown at The Atrium, 53 Street and Lexington Avenue in New York City, and at The Cornwall Connecticut Public Library.

Note: See some of my tulip images and read a fascinating article about Tulipmania excerpted from The Economist.