Wilde ridderspoor en zwarte moerbei 1617

This botanical print, "Wilde ridderspoor en zwarte moerbei" (Wild larkspur and black mulberry), was created by Crispijn van de Passe the Younger around the mid-17th century, during a time when the Dutch Republic was at the height of its Golden Age. The print, showcasing a larkspur and a black mulberry, reflects the intense interest in natural history and the burgeoning scientific observation of the period. These images, with their delicate lines, highlight an era grappling with new understandings of the natural world, born from colonial expansion and trade. But it also serves as a reminder of the economic systems of the time. The detailed depictions of plants such as the mulberry, vital for silk production, subtly remind us of the global economic networks and their relation to the exploitation of labor. The artwork invites us to consider the intersections of art, science, and commerce in the 17th century, and reflect on the personal and collective impact of our relationship with the natural world.