Twee soorten zeewier before 1892

This print of two kinds of seaweed comes from an unknown hand and an unknown date. It’s part of a tradition of botanical illustration that gained popularity in the 18th and 19th centuries alongside the rise of natural history as a scientific pursuit. Consider the social context: As Europe expanded its colonial reach, the natural world became a source of knowledge, power, and wealth. Botanical illustrations served a crucial role in documenting and classifying plant species from around the globe, often for economic reasons. This image invites us to reflect on the cultural and institutional forces that shaped the creation and consumption of art. Historical documents, scientific publications, and colonial archives are useful in shedding light on the social conditions that influence both artistic production and the reception of such works. What, for example, was the role of scientific illustration in asserting control over the natural world?