Naturhistorisk tegning 1844 - 1910

Carl Christian Larsen Cordts created this natural history drawing, using ink on paper. Drawings like this were more than just illustrations; they were vital tools for scientific understanding before photography became widespread. Consider the painstaking process involved. Each line, each tiny dot of shading, carefully rendered by hand. Look closely, and you'll notice the meticulous detail in the scales, the fins, the very texture of the fish skin. This wasn't just about capturing an image; it was about observing, understanding, and documenting the natural world. Now, think about the social context. Scientific exploration and discovery were heavily influenced by colonialism and capitalism. Explorers and scientists sought to understand and exploit natural resources, and meticulous drawings like these played a crucial role in that process. This drawing is not merely a depiction of fish. It's a testament to the labor, skill, and social forces that shaped our understanding of the natural world, blurring the lines between scientific documentation and artistic representation.