Zygopetalum jorisianum 1885 - 1906

Editor: We’re looking at “Zygopetalum jorisianum,” a watercolor painting by Jean Jules Linden, dating roughly from 1885 to 1906. I'm really struck by the almost clinical precision and detail in the illustration. What stands out to you when you look at it? Curator: Well, as a materialist, I immediately focus on the medium itself, watercolor. What does the choice of watercolor, versus, say, oil, tell us about the intended audience and the broader context of scientific illustration at the time? Who was consuming these images and for what purpose? Editor: So, less about the artistic intent, and more about the practical use of the image and the materials it was made from? Curator: Exactly. Consider the labour involved in meticulously rendering each petal and leaf. These weren’t just aesthetic objects; they were tools, deployed in the service of botany and, likely, commercial horticulture. Were these prints meant for educational use, to catalogue, or perhaps advertise rare species to wealthy collectors? Editor: That's fascinating. I hadn't thought about the link to commerce so directly. It’s easy to see it just as beautiful art. Curator: And that's where a materialist approach can be illuminating. By examining the production and distribution of these images, we get a glimpse into the social and economic forces at play, shaping not just the art, but also scientific knowledge itself. It helps unpack what this image _did_ in its time. What does botanical art mean now? Editor: This really sheds a different light on botanical illustrations! I'm so used to just seeing them as pretty pictures. Thank you for a more analytical view! Curator: My pleasure! It's crucial to remember that even seemingly straightforward images like this are products of a complex interplay between art, science, labor, and capital.