Botanicus 1780 - 1787

Editor: So, this drawing is titled "Botanicus" by Cornelis Brouwer, created sometime between 1780 and 1787. It's a pencil drawing on paper and can be seen at the Rijksmuseum. It has such a quiet, studious atmosphere to it, doesn't it? How do you interpret this work? Curator: It's interesting you mention the quiet atmosphere. Drawings like this reflect the growing importance of science and the natural world during the late 18th century. Think about the Enlightenment, the rise of scientific societies, and wealthy landowners who displayed their own findings in private collections and estate grounds. It was prestigious to possess and be seen pursuing an interest in Botany. What purpose might it serve to produce a piece like this, which visualizes wealthy citizens examining foliage, as opposed to creating botanical records for a research purpose? Editor: Hmm, so perhaps the emphasis isn’t only on scientific discovery, but more about signaling one’s social status through knowledge and leisure activities? The landscaping visible in the background seems very curated and tidy. Curator: Precisely! The composition presents us with a staged scene. Brouwer depicts an intimate interaction, yet we are not fully present, as if this moment might be for display as much as study. It raises questions about how artistic representation participates in shaping these very ideals. What are your thoughts about the landscape behind them, and how that fits into that purpose? Editor: Well, now that I look closer, it almost feels like a stage set for the characters. It's like they’re showing off their knowledge, wealth, and cultivation all at once. Almost like propaganda...for botany. Curator: Propaganda might be a strong word, but it underscores the point: Art during this time was deeply intertwined with constructing narratives around class and power. The artwork shows how intertwined the practice of science can be with wealth and spectacle. Editor: That's such a helpful way to think about it! I went in thinking about the artwork in isolation, not how it speaks to the society around it. Thanks!