Vlakken met hazelnoten, rozenbottels en mispels before 1897

This print of compartments featuring hazelnuts, rosehips, and medlars was made by an anonymous artist, at an unknown date. It seems to depict a kind of organization of nature that could relate to scientific ambitions, but perhaps also to commercial ones. As printing became more sophisticated in the 19th and 20th centuries, botanical illustration was a common way of demonstrating the capabilities of the printing press. Here, the range of tones and textures speaks to that interest in the technical refinement of printing. The botanical specimens are rendered in a way that is both artistic and documentary. One could understand the historical context of this image better by researching the history of printing and botanical illustration. The image is contingent on its place in that history.