Drie soorten zeewier before 1892

This image presents a meticulously arranged display of "Drie soorten zeewier," or three types of seaweed, by an anonymous artist. In the tradition of natural history illustrations, this botanical print captures a moment when the natural world was being rigorously documented and classified. At a time when scientific exploration and colonial expansion often went hand in hand, even images of seaweed were implicated in broader projects of knowledge production. The act of collecting, pressing, and presenting these specimens reflects a desire to organize and understand the natural world, but also, perhaps, to possess it in some way. Consider the gendered aspects of this pursuit; often, women were encouraged to engage in such artistic and scientific endeavors, as botany and natural illustration were seen as suitable pastimes. Yet their contributions were frequently undervalued or attributed to men. While the artist remains anonymous, the delicate precision of their work invites us to reflect on the multiple layers of history and identity embedded within this seemingly simple arrangement of seaweed.