Afdrukken van bladeren 1837 - 1921

This is a set of leaf prints by Pierre Joseph Hubert Cuypers, carefully arranged and preserved. The process is simple: leaves are inked, then pressed onto paper, each one rendered with surprising detail. It’s a technique that democratizes image-making, turning nature into a printing block. Note the contrast between the organic forms of the leaves and the geometric shapes of the paper they’re mounted on. This tension highlights the human desire to organize and classify the natural world. Cuypers was an architect, and this work provides a glimpse into the way that he looked to nature for inspiration. The act of collecting, pressing, and printing these leaves speaks to a particular moment in history, when the natural world was seen as both a source of beauty and a resource to be studied and controlled. By focusing on these materials and processes, we can understand the cultural values embedded in this seemingly simple work. It challenges us to consider the labor involved in both art and science, and how these practices shape our understanding of the world around us.