Rosier de Cels 1817 - 1824

This is an image of ‘Rosier de Cels’ which is located at the Minneapolis Institute of Art and was made by an anonymous artist. This botanical illustration raises questions about anonymity and authorship. What does it mean for a work of art to lack a known creator? The absence of a named artist invites us to consider the social and historical contexts in which knowledge and artistic production were often attributed to a select few, frequently excluding women and people from marginalized communities. Botanical art was closely tied to scientific exploration and colonialism. How do these images reflect power dynamics between those who classified and those who were classified? Consider the emotional impact, the beauty of the bloom, and the detailed observation. The image represents both scientific endeavor and aesthetic appreciation. The image prompts a conversation about visibility, recognition, and the politics of representation.