Natuurhistorische ensemble (nr. 5) 1596 - 1610

Elias Verhulst, an artist active at the turn of the 17th century, rendered this delicate watercolor of flora and fauna in the style of a natural history study. During this period, European society was undergoing a profound shift. Exploration and colonialism propelled encounters with new cultures and species. This led to a growing interest in cataloging and understanding the natural world, but also to the exploitation of both human and natural resources. Verhulst's ensemble gives us a glimpse into this moment. His rendering evokes the detailed observation and scientific inquiry, whilst reminding us of the social and political contexts in which such studies occurred. While seemingly objective, natural history illustrations were far from neutral, they mirrored the power dynamics of the time and the desire to categorize and control nature. This image invites us to consider the history of science and art as intertwined with the broader narrative of colonialism and its impact on our understanding of the world.