Custard Apple, Native 'Gooseberry' of Sarawak, and Leaf Locust 1878

This is Marianne North’s painting of a custard apple, a native "gooseberry" of Sarawak, and a leaf locust. North was a Victorian biologist and botanical artist who traveled extensively in the 1870s and 80s, documenting the flora of many countries, including Sarawak, now part of Malaysia. North’s work exists in a complicated space; as a woman, her access to education and professional opportunities in the sciences was limited. However, she came from a wealthy family, which afforded her the freedom to travel and to pursue her interests in botany. Although North positioned herself as a scientific observer, her paintings reveal the power dynamics inherent in colonial encounters. While she displayed an apparent interest in the natural world and different cultures, her images often exoticized the people and environments she encountered. North’s work invites us to consider the complex relationship between scientific exploration, artistic representation, and colonial power, and how these dynamics shaped our understanding of the world.