Kaapse bloem Possibly 1786 - 1787

This is ‘Kaapse bloem’ or Cape flower, made with ink and watercolour by Jan Brandes in 1786. It shows a botanical study, direct from nature. Look at the artist’s hand. Brandes uses a delicate touch in this image. The thin lines of the plants are built up with layers of translucent washes, capturing the plant's textures with careful detail. The varying colours bring life to each part of the plant, from stem to leaves. Brandes was a clergyman, but clearly had a love for the natural world, recording observations of plants and places. In the eighteenth century, the East India Company was active. So, this artwork reflects the growing interest in documenting and classifying the natural world for scientific and economic purposes. Ultimately, Brandes’s flower is a reminder that even the most unassuming of materials can be used to make significant artworks.