Twee gezichten op interieurs van de serres van de École Nationale Superieure d'Horticulture in Versailles, Frankrijk before 1900

This is an anonymous photograph of the interiors of the greenhouses of the École Nationale Supérieure d'Horticulture in Versailles. These greenhouses are a powerful symbol of French scientific and horticultural achievement. The photographs present different perspectives on the greenhouses, drawing the viewer into the very heart of the structures. The greenhouse, historically, represents a controlled environment, a space where nature is curated and cultivated under specific conditions. This control echoes broader themes of colonialism and the human desire to master the natural world. These greenhouses offered a site for the cultivation of plants from distant lands, mirroring the imperial ambitions of the time. The choice of orchids and fig vines as subjects highlights a preference for exotic and valuable species, indicative of societal values placed on rarity and luxury. The photographs invite us to reflect on the complex relationship between nature, science, and power, questioning the underlying motives behind cultivation and control.