Liefhebber van naturaliën 1780

This print, "Liefhebber van naturaliën," was etched by Daniel Chodowiecki. The image features a collector of naturalia surrounded by his treasures. Note the collected items: shells, stones, and what appear to be fossils, emblems of nature's artistry. Above, suspended from the ceiling, we find what appears to be taxidermied alligator, another artifact in this cabinet of curiosities. Such collections were popular in the 18th century as expressions of a scientific curiosity and also of a deeper human need to catalogue and control the natural world. These collections echo the Renaissance cabinets of curiosities, or "Wunderkammern," where natural and man-made wonders were amassed, reflecting a desire to grasp the totality of existence. Much like a reliquary, these collections capture a moment in time. The collector attempts to defy the inevitable dissolution of all living things, a poignant, if subconscious, battle against mortality itself. This urge—to collect, to preserve—speaks to our enduring quest to understand our place in the cosmos.