Minerva en de personificaties van de wetenschappen te midden van portretbustes van overleden leden van de Académie des Sciences 1729

Bernard Picart created this print, "Minerva en de personificaties van de wetenschappen te midden van portretbustes van overleden leden van de Académie des Sciences," using etching and engraving techniques. It encapsulates the aspirations and intellectual climate of the early 18th century, reflecting the period's fascination with reason and scientific advancement. At the heart of the image we see Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom, presiding over figures representing different sciences. What’s striking is how this scene, populated by allegorical figures, seems to assert the dominance of a classical, idealized vision of knowledge. The male busts of deceased members in the background remind us of the gendered nature of institutions of learning at this time. The print invites us to reflect on the historical context of knowledge production and to consider whose voices were amplified and whose were marginalized. It serves as a reminder of the complex interplay between power, knowledge, and representation. It encourages us to think about the stories we tell ourselves about progress, and who gets to write those stories.