Bloemen 1744 - 1800

Gottlieb Hess created this delicate pen drawing on paper titled 'Bloemen', or 'Flowers', which is now held at the Rijksmuseum. Without color, Hess directs our focus to the form and structure of these botanical specimens. Floral studies became popular as tools of scientific documentation during the Enlightenment. However, they also served a crucial role in the decorative arts, often informing the production of textiles and ceramics for wealthy patrons. In this context, Hess’s drawing exists at an intersection of botany, commerce, and class. I invite you to consider the labor involved in producing such a drawing and the subsequent labor of artisans who would translate these designs into luxury commodities. While we don't know Hess’s personal background, it is worth reflecting on who had the privilege to create art, who had the means to purchase it, and whose labor made its production possible. This drawing, therefore, offers a glimpse into the social and economic structures of its time.