Oostindische kers 1677 - 1755

Elias van Nijmegen made this watercolor drawing titled 'Oostindische kers', or 'Nasturtium', sometime in the late 17th or early 18th century. Van Nijmegen lived during the Dutch Golden Age, a time of immense economic growth and global exploration for the Netherlands. At first glance, this is a delicate study of a flowering plant. But 'Oostindische kers' also translates to 'East Indian cress,' hinting at the colonial networks that brought new botanical specimens to Europe. These flowers, native to South America, became a fashionable motif, celebrated for their beauty, and consumed as a culinary delicacy. Consider the cultural values that elevated this plant to an object of artistic and scientific interest. Does this image celebrate nature, or does it quietly reflect the power dynamics of a globalizing world? The beauty of these blooms belies a history of cultural exchange and colonial enterprise, inviting us to reflect on the complex relationship between aesthetics and power.