Lecture | Talk
18th EHLU talk/craftwork demonstration by Jessie Wei-Hsuan Chen: Illustrations, Materials, and the Environment
- Date
- Tuesday 10 March 2026
- Time
- Address
-
Herta Mohr
Witte Singel 27A
2311 BG Leiden - Room
- 0.16
The environmental humanities LU talk series is back after a break of a few months with a lecture and craftwork demonstration by Dr. Jessie Wei-Hsuan Chen!
European natural history illustrations usually present flora and fauna in a decontextualized manner in front of an empty background, disconnecting them from their habitats and the overall natural environment. Yet, the artists’ materials for making the images—papers and parchments, printing blocks and plates, pigments and paints—have been primarily sourced from nature, with the environment affecting their supplies and qualities throughout history. This talk discusses the connections between images, materials, and the environment. Through three examples of making natural history illustrations in historical and modern manners, this talk shows the heavy environmental presence in the pictures. The session includes a talk and a presentation of craftwork. Participants also have a chance to try their hands at working with natural pigments and paints.
