Forum Vulcani: The Hot Springs at Pozzuoli 1578

Joris Hoefnagel made this drawing of the hot springs at Pozzuoli in Italy using pen and brown ink sometime in the late 16th century. The image presents a seemingly objective view of the landscape, but it also reflects a particular cultural moment. As Europe expanded its reach through exploration and colonization, there was increasing interest in documenting and classifying the natural world. Hoefnagel's drawing, with its precise detail and descriptive labels, participates in this impulse to understand and control nature through observation and representation. The detailed rendering of the volcanic landscape, with its steaming vents and rugged terrain, speaks to the scientific curiosity of the time. But it’s worth noting that our understanding of such images depends on the kind of historical research that situates them within a network of social and institutional practices. The visual power of this landscape connects to the political and economic ambitions of the era.