Solanum Melongena from Icones Plantarum Medicinalium 1788 - 1812

Joseph Jakob Plenck made this print of an eggplant, or Solanum Melongena, as part of a series of medicinal plants. It’s an image that participates in a long history of botanical illustration, where scientific observation meets artistic representation. Produced in Vienna, Austria, during the late 18th century, this image reflects the growing interest in natural history and medicine, driven by Enlightenment ideals and the expansion of scientific knowledge. Plenck was a professor of chemistry and botany, and his Icones Plantarum Medicinalium was intended as a practical guide for medical students. This print exemplifies the intersection of art and science, where precise rendering serves the purpose of education and documentation. Yet, we can also examine this print as a cultural artifact. What does it mean to classify and categorize nature? How did the rise of scientific institutions shape the production and dissemination of knowledge? By researching the social and institutional contexts in which such images were created, we can better understand their role in shaping our understanding of the world.