Blaireau. / Badger. / Dachs. / Tasso. / Das 1829 - 1880

This print of badgers was produced by the firm Joseph Scholz, though the date is unknown. The firm was based in Mainz, Germany. This image is a fine example of the nineteenth-century interest in natural history. European powers controlled vast empires, and the scientific classification of the natural world was a key component of colonial administration. Museums of natural history were established to house collections of specimens from around the world. The image, with its neutral background, recalls the taxonomic illustrations found in encyclopedias and scientific journals of the period. But prints such as these were also sold to a middle-class public eager to learn about the world. The inclusion of the animal's name in five languages suggests the print was made for international distribution. To understand this image better, consider the history of scientific illustration and the role of printmaking in disseminating knowledge in the nineteenth century. Doing so can tell us much about the social conditions that shaped the production and consumption of art.