Cypripedium selligerum majus 1885 - 1906

Jean Jules Linden created this botanical illustration of Cypripedium selligerum majus during a time when the collection and display of exotic plants reflected both scientific curiosity and imperial ambition. The orchid itself, with its distinctive pouch, known as the lady slipper, has long been laden with sexual metaphors. In the Victorian era, a flower like this one was frequently used to represent coded dialogues around desire, gender roles, and the exotic other. The very act of illustrating and categorizing the orchid is rooted in systems of power where nature is observed, captured, and presented through a Western lens. Linden's detailed rendering invites us to consider the historical context in which it was created. It allows us to reflect on how our understanding and appreciation of the natural world is intertwined with histories of colonialism, gender, and representation. Consider how scientific illustration can reveal as much about the culture of its creators, as about the specimens they depict.