Natuurhistorische ensemble (nr. 16) 1596 - 1610

Elias Verhulst created this intriguing page of insects, shells, and plants around the turn of the 17th century. This was a time of expanding global trade and emerging scientific curiosity. These detailed studies of nature, created by artists of the period, were a way of documenting and understanding the natural world. But what did it mean to classify and collect nature in this way? This was a period of intense colonial expansion, and these collections often reflected the power dynamics between Europe and the rest of the world. The gathering and cataloging of specimens, in a sense, mirrored the act of claiming and controlling territories and resources. Consider the emotional weight of these specimens, permanently removed from their original habitats. This ensemble invites us to reflect on the complex relationship between humans and the environment, both then and now, and to consider the stories behind the objects we choose to preserve.