Arabische koffieplant 1668 - 1729

Laurens Vincentsz. van der Vinne rendered this "Arabische koffieplant" with watercolor and gouache on paper. The artist's meticulous technique captures the plant's form with incredible precision, the subtle gradations of color defining the texture and surface of the leaves. It’s not just botanical illustration, but a careful translation of an exotic object into an aesthetic experience. The history of coffee is rooted in global trade and colonial exploitation. Originally from Ethiopia, by the 17th century coffee plantations had spread to other parts of the world, often through forced labor. This drawing, in its own way, reflects this history, and the power structures that shaped it. Van der Vinne transforms a plant, bound to global commerce, into an object of quiet, artistic contemplation.