Bladeren met hoornvormen 1755 - 1775

Johann Heinrich Hess created this drawing of foliage with horn shapes. Botanical drawings like this one reflect the growth of scientific exploration. It also demonstrates Europe's burgeoning colonial endeavors. At this time, there was a mania for collecting and classifying natural specimens from around the globe. These drawings capture that spirit of inquiry but often sanitize the extraction of resources and the exploitation of indigenous knowledge. They can reflect both genuine scientific curiosity and also the will to power over nature and other cultures. Consider the tension embedded in these images: between science and empire, observation and extraction. What stories do these leaves tell?