Drie soorten zeewier before 1892

This is an image of seaweed, rendered in precise detail with printing ink on paper. It is found in a book of botanical illustrations. Works such as these speak to the rise of scientific study in the 18th and 19th centuries. Natural history became a popular area of interest during the Enlightenment, and the production and circulation of printed images facilitated the study of plant life. This was when scientists began to classify and record natural phenomena. How might the practice of gathering, naming, and picturing specimens, have been used to reinforce a sense of control over the natural world? Did printed images help to disseminate scientific ideas, or did they represent a form of ownership? Further research into the history of science, the history of printing, and the context in which these types of images were made can deepen our understanding of the complex and evolving relationship between science and society.