Bizon 1766 - 1793

Leendert Brasser etched this image of a Bizon, as it was then known, sometime in the 18th century. Its crisp lines and meticulous detail offer us insights into the era's fascination with natural history and the scientific classification of the world. Made in the Netherlands, this print reflects the Dutch Republic's global reach through trade and exploration. The image presents an attempt to document and categorize the natural world, fitting into the Linnaean system of taxonomy which became increasingly popular across Europe at this time. But this image is more than just a neutral record. The bison, an animal foreign to the Dutch landscape, is presented as an object of study, reflecting a colonial gaze that sought to catalogue and control the natural resources of distant lands. To truly understand the significance of this print, we can explore the scientific publications and travelogues of the period. By examining these historical resources, we can gain insights into the complex interplay between science, colonialism, and the representation of nature in the 18th century.