Decorative Floral Print, from A Collection of Flowers Drawn after Nature 1793

This decorative floral print was made by John Edwards some time before his death in 1746. Edwards was an English artist and this print comes from a series of flower drawings made after nature. But what kind of 'nature' are we talking about here? Notice the overall symmetry of the composition, the ribbons, and the silver vase at its center. These features tell us that Edwards's image is far from a straightforward study of the natural world. Instead, it reflects the formal gardens and decorative schemes that were fashionable among the British elite at this time. Land ownership was a key signifier of power. So too was the ability to transform land into pleasing aesthetic arrangements. To understand this print better, we might look at garden design manuals or conduct research into the collecting habits of wealthy landowners. The image reminds us that even depictions of nature are shaped by culture and class.