Poison Ivy from the Plants series 1862 - 1869

This botanical print of Poison Ivy is from a series by Louis Prang & Co., a company known for its chromolithographs during the late 19th century. During this period, there was a growing interest in natural sciences and botany, fueled by colonialism and exploration. But it also tells us about cultural attitudes toward nature and the roles of science in society. Poison Ivy, while part of the natural world, is also a plant to be feared and avoided. It's named as poisonous to touch. This duality invites us to reflect on our relationship with nature: what we choose to cultivate, and what we deem dangerous or undesirable. This image reminds us to consider the cultural lenses through which we perceive the natural world, and how these perceptions are shaped by our desire to categorize, control, and sometimes, to conquer. The plant is both a beautiful object of study and a source of potential harm, reflecting our complicated relationship with the world around us.