Cattleya Lawrenceana 1885 - 1906

Jean Jules Linden created this image of Cattleya Lawrenceana using lithography, a printmaking technique. Linden was a botanist and explorer, which places his artwork within the context of 19th century scientific illustration. However, botanical illustration is rarely just about science. During this period, Europe was expanding its colonial reach. Scientific illustration became a tool for documenting and classifying the natural resources of colonized lands. This endeavor was deeply entangled with power dynamics and colonial exploitation. Consider the orchid itself, often seen as a symbol of luxury and exoticism. Its depiction here reflects the Western gaze on the natural world, turning flora into objects of desire and consumption. The orchid carries a certain emotional weight - a mix of beauty, scientific curiosity, and the complicated history of colonial appropriation.