Plate 30: Seven Moths c. 1575 - 1580

"Plate 30: Seven Moths" is a watercolor and gouache on vellum, painted by Joris Hoefnagel around the turn of the 17th century. Hoefnagel was a Flemish artist working at a time when scientific observation began to merge with art. His detailed renderings reflect the shift towards empirical study and the rise of natural history as a pursuit. But within the scientific gaze, we find a delicate dance between knowledge and power. In a time of exploration and colonization, the act of depicting nature was also an act of appropriation, reflecting European dominance and the classification of the natural world. Consider the emotional resonance of these moths. They are specimens, but they are also beings, each one distinct. They remind us of the intricate beauty that exists in the often-overlooked corners of our world, a beauty that is both fragile and resilient. How does this blend of science and art affect your understanding of nature?