Verzameling gefossiliseerde armpotigen, Spirifer before 1894

This lithograph presents a collection of fossilized brachiopods, specifically Spirifer, and comes from an anonymous artist. Lithographs like this were crucial tools in 19th-century scientific illustration, used to disseminate knowledge about the natural world at a time when photography was still in its infancy. The meticulous detail in these drawings, focusing on the minute structures of the shells, highlights the era's obsession with cataloging and understanding the natural world through a scientific lens. These images were not just about documentation; they reflect a broader cultural project of defining and organizing the world. Consider the colonial undertones of such scientific endeavors. Often, specimens like these were gathered from various corners of the globe, brought back to European centers of study, and classified within Western frameworks. This act of naming and categorizing was also an act of possession. So, as we look at these fossilized shells, we might reflect on the power dynamics embedded in the history of science and how those dynamics continue to shape our understanding of the natural world.