A Crab 

Jan van Huysum made this crab drawing using watercolor on paper. What might seem like a straightforward scientific illustration is in fact a highly composed work of art. Consider the intense labor involved in creating such a realistic image. Van Huysum carefully built up layers of transparent pigment to capture the crab's complex texture and subtle color variations. The level of detail suggests the use of fine brushes and a magnifying lens. While seemingly distant from concerns of labor and politics, such still lifes were luxury items, emblems of refined taste in the 18th century. They demonstrate a sensibility akin to collecting, ordering, and understanding nature for its resources. Ultimately, this work invites us to consider the amount of skill involved in its production, and also the complex social context in which it was created. It blurs the lines between scientific observation, artistic expression, and consumer culture.