Crassula perfoliata 1668 - 1729

Editor: Here we have Laurens Vincentsz. van der Vinne's "Crassula perfoliata," a botanical drawing from the late 17th or early 18th century, rendered in watercolor on paper. It feels so delicate and precise, almost clinical. What do you see in this piece beyond just a pretty plant? Curator: What immediately strikes me is the context of botanical illustration in this period. It wasn't simply about objective representation. Think about colonialism: Europeans were encountering, classifying, and, crucially, appropriating knowledge about flora from around the world. This drawing becomes part of that system. Do you think the plant is portrayed neutrally or in a position to represent the context of this colonialism? Editor: I see what you mean. There's a sense of detachment, almost like a specimen pinned under glass, despite the delicate beauty of the watercolor. Is the very act of meticulously documenting this plant a form of control? Curator: Exactly! Knowledge is power. Consider who this drawing was likely made for - wealthy collectors, perhaps. The consumption of this artwork and others of its type reinforces social hierarchy, exoticising global resources within a domestic setting. How might we see this object differently if we centre Indigenous knowledges and perspectives? Editor: I never thought of a simple botanical drawing as being implicated in something so complex! Looking at it now, I feel like I’m seeing a quiet power dynamic at play, hidden within the delicate lines and washes. Curator: It demonstrates how even seemingly innocuous images can be deeply entwined with historical and social power structures. Bringing that awareness to our interpretation is key. Editor: This makes me rethink the whole genre of botanical art! I will never see such artworks the same way. Curator: Precisely! Hopefully, that encourages you to dig a little deeper beneath surface appearances of artworks going forward.