The Naturalist 1857

Curator: Ferdinand Julius Wilhelm Laufberger, though dates are unknown, created this intriguing piece, "The Naturalist," held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Oh, the drama! It's like a caricature of a man, swallowed whole by the accoutrements of his trade. Curator: Indeed. The figure is laden with the tools—a net, a magnifying glass, and even what looks like a small hunting rifle slung over his shoulder. Editor: And the dead animals! That lizard, poor birds...it’s a bit macabre, isn't it? Makes you wonder about the relationship between observing and exploiting. Curator: Certainly a tension there, but perhaps Laufberger is also commenting on the fashion of the naturalist, the spectacle of scientific pursuit. Editor: I suppose so. Ultimately, it's a snapshot of a time when conquering nature felt more heroic than horrifying. Curator: Precisely. It provides a lens, however flawed, into the history of science and our perception of the natural world. Editor: Agreed. And what a strange, beautiful, terrible window it is.