Ster- en klokvormige bloemen 1836

Anton Weiss made this pencil drawing titled Ster- en klokvormige bloemen, or Star and Bell-Shaped Flowers, sometime in the first half of the 19th century. This drawing is an example of botanical illustration which rose to prominence in the 17th century. The scientific classification of plants and animals was gaining popularity. The creation of accurate visual records was seen as essential to understanding and sharing this new knowledge. Consider the institutional role of museums like the Rijksmuseum in preserving such works. Drawings like this one were often commissioned by wealthy patrons or scientific institutions. They reflect not only an interest in the natural world, but also the social structures that enabled its study. To fully understand drawings like this, we need to examine the archives and documents that reveal the networks of patronage and scientific exchange in which they were created. The meaning of this artwork is thus contingent on its historical context.