Archetype: A Shape In The Mid-16th Century

In the mid-16th century, Europe was first introduced to the tulip flower by the Ottoman Empire. This flower became increasingly popular in Holland and was eventually seen as a sign of luxury and a status symbol. Somehow along the way many of the tulips managed to contract a disease that changed the petal colors, giving them the look of “flames” which in turn made them even more coveted. Once the novelty rose for the flower, the price for the tulips began to rise as well. By 1636 the tulip was traded on many stock exchanges.
At the beginning of the tulip craze, only a select few who could afford it were buying up the bulbs. Eventually as the price began to rise, many others felt the need to get in on the profit making. Almost everyone