Tak van jasmijn met bloem 1741 - 1820

Abraham Delfos created this print of a jasmine branch and flower sometime between 1731 and 1820. Delfos, who lived during the Enlightenment, was working in a period defined by its fascination with classifying and understanding the natural world. It's interesting to consider how the scientific and colonial projects of the Enlightenment intersect in this image. Botanical art often served colonial interests, documenting and cataloging resources from colonized lands. The jasmine itself, native to South Asia, reflects global exchange and botanical exploration of the period. There's a tension here: The print captures the delicate beauty of nature through an analytical, almost clinical lens. It invites us to reflect on the power dynamics inherent in how we perceive and document the world around us.