Ronce frutescente. Ronce bleue 1801 - 1819

This is a botanical illustration of brambles, also known as "Ronce frutescente. Ronce bleue", made sometime in the 18th or 19th century. These images were not just about science; they were also deeply tied to the politics of knowledge and power. Illustrations like this were often commissioned by wealthy patrons or scientific institutions. In France, this was often the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle. Botanical illustrations played a crucial role in categorizing and understanding the natural world. But this knowledge wasn't neutral, it was used to facilitate colonial expansion, economic exploitation, and consolidate European dominance. How were plants classified? Who got to decide what was scientifically important? What social factors determined the perception of Nature? By studying botanical illustrations like this, and researching the archives of institutions that made them, we can uncover the complex social and political forces that shaped scientific knowledge in the past, and consider the power dynamics that persist today.