Browse Exhibits (1 total)

Introduction

The Dutch Golden Age of painting during the 17th century is commonly recognized for ornate flower and food still life paintings that stemmed from the rise in global trade, Dutch colonialism, and the discovery of new species. In the Golden Age, as Dutch society grew wealthy, such paintings depicting exotic animals and hunting trophies became sought after by the growing middle and upper class population. Displaying flawlessly rendered paintings of game, surrounded by exotic animals, flowers, or food, became a way of showcasing one's success in society, as such artworks expressed themes of travel and wealth. Such dutch still lifes are often not contextualized, and often admired for their skill, but through exploring these works with historic context, themes of trade and travel expose stories of colonization and exploitation, through framing art from the Dutch Golden Age alongside a rare book, Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium, written and illustrated by a German-Dutch artist and naturalist, Maria Sibyl Merian. This exhibit will outline Merian's 17th-century scientific illustrations, connecting them to 17th-century Dutch painting, and the historical and global context associated with the practice.