Natuurhistorische ensemble (nr. 4) 1596 - 1610

Elias Verhulst made this watercolor and pen drawing, titled Natuurhistorische ensemble, around the turn of the 17th century. The artwork is a page from what was likely a larger collection or study of natural specimens. During this time, the rise of scientific inquiry and exploration fueled a fascination with the natural world. Aristocrats sponsored expeditions to chart the world and collect new plants and animals for display in cabinets of curiosity. These collections were status symbols, demonstrating their owner’s wealth, learning, and global reach. The ordered arrangement and careful labeling in Verhulst’s drawing reflect the growing desire to classify and understand nature through observation and documentation. To understand this drawing better, we can look to the inventories of the time. These will help us see how the artist’s contemporaries viewed and used images like this one. This artwork offers insight into the intersection of art, science, and social status during the early modern period.