Botanicus 1780 - 1787

Cornelis Brouwer, made this 112 by 175 mm drawing called, Botanicus, sometime in the late 18th century. Brouwer lived through the Dutch Golden Age and the beginnings of the Enlightenment, eras marked by burgeoning scientific inquiry and social change. This work shows a scene with figures rendered in brown ink that seems to merge with the aged paper. Although the drawing is not clearly legible, one could imagine that this work reflects the period’s fascination with natural history, or perhaps it is a commentary on the scientific explorations that shaped this period. It makes me think about how the Enlightenment was not universally accessible; rather it was shaped by the social hierarchies of the time. Consider how Brouwer might have been influenced by the cultural values and the emerging scientific discourse. As you stand here, let this somewhat faded drawing evoke the complexities of history and the layers of interpretation that time can add to an artwork.