Twee soorten zeewier before 1892

This detailed seaweed illustration was made by an anonymous artist, part of a scientific study. We can assume it originates in a Western European country, given the Latin naming of the species, and the printer in Paris. The image creates meaning through its meticulous depiction of two seaweed varieties. The plants are presented against an empty page, which isolates the object of study. The image exists at the intersection of art and science. During this time, the scientific method became more closely linked to artistic practice and thus this kind of botanical drawing was used to classify and present specimens for study. The artist is unknown, but their hand contributes to the scientific project. In many ways, the artist is serving the needs of an institution. To understand this artwork better, we could use resources such as botanical databases, historical archives of scientific publications, and studies of the relationship between art and science in the 18th and 19th centuries.