Hortensia 1831 - 1832

Anton Weiss created this drawing of a Hortensia at an unknown date. Weiss lived in a time of exploration and colonialism. During the 19th century botanical drawings were made in a way that expressed power relations and reflected the era’s scientific interests. In the artwork, the Hortensia seems to float freely from its background, isolated. These kind of botanical illustrations were not just scientific records; they were also statements about possession and control over nature. Weiss’s personal views about this situation are unknown to us, but his plant drawings are an important example of how art and science come together to document and sometimes reinforce the status quo. Consider how our understanding of nature and our impact on it has evolved since Weiss’s time, and what role art plays in these evolving conversations.