Five Prints of Flowers in Glass Vases 1688 - 1698

This is one of five prints of flowers in glass vases by an anonymous artist. The botanical study is rendered in fine detail using an etching technique. Prints such as these speak to the rise of scientific observation in the Netherlands, and particularly in Amsterdam. As a key trading hub of the Dutch Golden Age, Amsterdam had a large merchant class with a keen interest in natural wonders from around the world. Collectors formed cabinets of curiosity that included pressed flowers, and artists made botanical illustration a specialization. Institutions such as the Hortus Botanicus in Amsterdam played a crucial role in these developments. It served as a center for cultivation, research, and the exchange of knowledge about plants. By studying the visual culture of a specific time, we gain insight into the knowledge, values, and power structures of the time. A variety of sources, including trade records, scientific publications, and social histories, can help to illuminate the context in which art is produced.