Vergiftige planten 1865 - 1875

This print, "Vergiftige planten" or "Poisonous plants," was created by George Lodewijk Funke in Amsterdam. It's a lithograph, a printing process where the image is drawn on a stone or metal plate with a greasy substance, then inked and printed. The material quality of the print, the fineness of the lines and the subtle gradations of tone, are all thanks to the lithographic process. Each plant is rendered with precision. This wasn't just about botanical accuracy. In its time, this imagery was widely available and relatively inexpensive. Lithography democratized image-making, making knowledge accessible to a wider audience. Consider the labor involved: the artist's hand, the printing process, the distribution of the prints. This piece reflects the rise of mass production and consumption in the 19th century. Ultimately, "Vergiftige planten" invites us to see the beauty and the danger in the natural world, and to recognize the complex social forces that shape our understanding of it. It blurs the lines between art, science, and commerce.