Great Blue Butterflies and Red Fruits 1705 - 1771

This print of Great Blue Butterflies and Red Fruits, now at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, was made by an anonymous artist at an unknown date. Prints such as this played a critical role in shaping the Western understanding of the natural world. During the period of exploration and colonization, European naturalists sent artists to document the flora and fauna of newly "discovered" lands. These images, often exoticized, perpetuated a vision of the colonies as abundant and ripe for exploitation. Consider the way the butterflies are rendered here. They are pinned, their wings spread, displayed as specimens, not living beings. Notice how the indigenous fruits are presented as mere objects of curiosity. These details reflect a colonial mindset that seeks to categorize and control nature, transforming it into a resource. How does this image speak to the complex relationship between science, art, and power?