Sottobosco art -loosely translated to forest floor- was a visualization of 17th century treatises on insects, snails, seashells and snakes. Born from invention of the microscope, these paintings drew attention to previously unseen worlds. They employed alchemical principles (creating like with like) earth pigments were used for ground and moss, toxic pigments for poisonous flowers. Lizards, toads and chameleons symbolized elemental forces of fire, earth air, serpents and butterflies represented the transience of the human soul. 

Contemporary sottobosco are trompe l’oeil paintings which appear as traditional 17th century art from that genre, but upon closer inspection reveal traces of humanities footprint.