Studie van een Oostindische kers 1869 - 1925

Antoon Derkinderen made this study of a nasturtium flower in the Netherlands, but we don't know exactly when. The drawing provides a glimpse into the botanical studies that were popular during that time. Depicting the plant in both a colorful study on the left and a pencil sketch on the right, this work presents a contrast between the aesthetic appreciation and the scientific analysis of nature. It reflects a period when the Netherlands, with its rich colonial history, saw an increased interest in exotic flora. Botanical gardens and institutions played a key role, as places where artists and scientists alike could study and depict plants from all over the world. Derkinderen's approach—combining art with scientific observation—mirrors the era's drive to understand and classify the natural world. To better understand this work, it would be interesting to look at Derkinderen's other studies, as well as the botanical publications and collections that would have been available to him.