Portret van George Edwards 1798 - 1841

This is a portrait of George Edwards, the noted Zoologist, made by Ambroise Tardieu, a French engraver who lived during a time of great social and political upheaval. Tardieu's work gives us a glimpse into the scientific community of the 18th and 19th centuries, and the figures who shaped it. It presents us with the image of a man of science, during a period when scientific exploration was deeply enmeshed with colonial expansion. Edwards’s gaze exudes a quiet confidence, reflective of the social standing afforded to men of science during this era. Yet, this portrait also asks us to consider the broader context in which scientific knowledge was produced. Whose voices were amplified, and whose were silenced? How did prevailing social hierarchies influence the pursuit of knowledge? As you contemplate this image, consider the complex interplay between science, society, and power.