Natural History

Natural history prints with a quiet, archival presence — precise, aged, and rich in the atmosphere of scientific curiosity and collected observation.

  • Foreign butterflies occurring in the three continents Asia, Africa and America Pl.334 (1779-1782)

    Foreign butterflies occurring in the three continents Asia, Africa and America Pl.334 (1779-1782)

    Pieter Cramer (Dutch, 1721–1776)

    Vibrant wings unfold across continents—delicate patterns from Asia, bold hues of Africa, and the exotic shades of America. Each butterfly a tiny traveler, pinned to the page yet alive with color, their silent flight preserved in ink and paper.

  • Phasianus Shawii. (1872)

    Phasianus Shawii. (1872)

    Joseph Smit (Dutch, 1836–1929)

    A pheasant perches on a branch, its iridescent plumage glowing against muted greens. The watercolor strokes capture each feather’s delicate texture, from the speckled breast to the long, tapered tail. This isn’t just a bird—it’s a meticulous study of light playing across living color.

  • 1. Labrus Julis, The Rainbow-fish; 2. Labrus Guttatus, The dropped Wrasse. (1785-1797)

    1. Labrus Julis, The Rainbow-fish; 2. Labrus Guttatus, The dropped Wrasse. (1785-1797)

    Marcus Elieser Bloch (German, 1723–1799)

    Two vibrant fish leap from the page—one striped in fiery oranges and blues, the other speckled like scattered ink. Their scales shimmer with life, frozen mid-motion as if darting through coral. The delicate engravings reveal every fin and gill, turning scientific precision into unexpected beauty.

  • Fauna japonica Pl.161 (1833-1850)

    Fauna japonica Pl.161 (1833-1850)

    Philipp Franz Balthasar von Siebold (German, 1796–1866)

    Delicate engravings reveal Japan’s wildlife with scientific precision—each feather, scale, and leaf meticulously rendered. A rare glimpse into an ecosystem preserved through ink and paper.

  • De uitlandsche kapellen voorkomende in de drie waereld-deelen, Asia, Africa en America pl04 (1779-1782)

    De uitlandsche kapellen voorkomende in de drie waereld-deelen, Asia, Africa en America pl04 (1779-1782)

    Pieter Cramer (Dutch, 1721–1776)

    Delicate wings unfurl across the page—tropical butterflies and moths frozen mid-flight, their intricate patterns etched in fine lines. Each specimen reveals nature’s precision, from veined membranes to speckled borders, inviting closer study of these exotic insects.

  • Fish Series, No. 2 (1917)

    Fish Series, No. 2 (1917)

    Charles Demuth (American, 1883–1935)

    A delicate watercolor study of fish, their scales shimmering with translucent washes. The precise lines suggest scientific observation, yet the fluid colors breathe life into each specimen. Something between documentation and poetry.

  • Ornithologia methodice digesta Pl.260 (1767-1776)

    Ornithologia methodice digesta Pl.260 (1767-1776)

    Saverio Manetti (Italian, 1723–1784)

    A meticulous engraving of birds, each feather and curve rendered with scientific precision. The plates reveal nature’s intricate designs, frozen in ink—a silent study of wings, beaks, and the sharp clarity of observation.

  • Fauna japonica Pl.057 (1833-1850)

    Fauna japonica Pl.057 (1833-1850)

    Philipp Franz Balthasar von Siebold (German, 1796–1866)

    Delicate wings unfold against crisp paper—a Japanese insect preserved in ink, each vein and segment rendered with scientific precision. The creature seems poised to take flight from its page, frozen mid-motion between study and specimen.

  • Atlas państwa zwierzęcego Pl.78 (1905)

    Atlas państwa zwierzęcego Pl.78 (1905)

    Kurt Lampert (German, unknown)

    A meticulous grid of creatures—each line precise, each form distinct. The engraving arranges the animal kingdom into orderly rows, transforming wildness into a catalog of sharp contrasts and delicate details. Life pinned to the page, yet bristling with unseen movement.