Bladeren van de wijfjesvaren en de adelaarsvaren before 1877

This is a photograph of ferns from a book, likely a botanical study, made by Sydney Courtauld in the late 19th century. Courtauld’s careful, almost scientific recording of the ferns connects to the Victorian era’s interest in natural history and classification. This was a time when institutions like museums and botanical gardens were expanding, reflecting a broader cultural desire to collect, categorize, and understand the natural world. These institutions also served to reflect Britain’s position as a major world power, as the collections often came from throughout the Empire. The very act of photographing and documenting these plants speaks to the social and intellectual currents of the time, as people sought to order and make sense of an increasingly complex world. If we were to dig deeper, we might explore the specific scientific and cultural contexts that made botanical illustration a valued practice. We might also look at the role of photography in shaping perceptions of nature.