Dennenboom 1858 - 1859

Johannes Tavenraat made this drawing of a fir tree, or ‘dennenboom’ in Dutch, at an unknown date, using graphite on paper. Botanical studies like this were common in the 19th century, and served as an important part of scientific classification. The Netherlands had a long and important history of colonialism and botanical study. The Dutch East India Company had, for centuries, imported spices, plants, and other natural materials from their colonies in the East Indies. These items were, often, meticulously studied and classified. Seen in this light, this drawing may be read as part of this history of scientific observation that was closely linked with Dutch colonialism. Scholars interested in the relationship between art and science might make use of institutional archives, such as the records of the Dutch East India Company, to further contextualize drawings like this. Such study helps us better understand the social conditions that shaped artistic production.