Bladeren van de grote klit 1767 - 1835

Carl Wilhelm Kolbe made this print of burdock leaves using etching, likely in Germany, sometime between the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Kolbe was part of a movement interested in detailed naturalistic studies, influenced by scientific illustration and the broader Enlightenment project of classifying and understanding the natural world. But why burdock? In the context of its time, this choice reflects a growing interest in botany and agriculture as fields of both scientific and economic importance. Kolbe's meticulous approach to depicting the burdock plant elevates it from a common weed to a subject worthy of artistic attention. This shift mirrors a broader cultural trend where the natural world was increasingly seen as a resource to be understood and managed. Understanding this print involves looking at the illustrated botanical books popular at the time, as well as the economic history of agriculture in Germany. This artwork offers insight into the period's relationship with nature and the burgeoning scientific culture.