Insecten 1630

Jacob Hoefnagel created this print of insects sometime between 1592 and 1630, a period marked by significant exploration and discovery. Hoefnagel himself was the son of a painter to the Habsburg court, a background which gave him access to the visual culture of the elite. The detailed engravings of insects evoke a sense of wonder and curiosity about the natural world, reflecting the burgeoning scientific interest of the time. But there's also a darker side to this impulse. These images were made during a period of intense colonial expansion. How might Europeans' efforts to classify and control nature mirrored their attempts to dominate foreign lands and people? The artist renders each insect with such precision, inviting viewers to examine them closely, and perhaps, consider the complex relationship between knowledge, power, and the natural world.