Destilleerapparatuur en scheikundige instrumenten 1730

Bernard Picart created this print, “Distilling equipment and chemical instruments,” sometime in the late 17th to early 18th century. At first glance, this image offers a glimpse into the scientific practices of the time. Yet, the image’s stark black and white lines and the almost diagrammatic presentation of the equipment also speaks to a period grappling with the rise of empiricism and the desire to categorize and understand the natural world through observation and experimentation. Consider how such scientific endeavors were often the domain of privileged men, furthering existing power structures. What knowledge was deemed worthy, and who had access to it, were deeply intertwined with issues of gender, class, and social status. This print, in its own way, reflects the selective nature of knowledge production and the ways in which certain voices and perspectives were amplified while others were marginalized. Ultimately, "Distilling equipment and chemical instruments" is a reminder of the complex interplay between scientific advancement and the social contexts in which it unfolds.