Title: The History of Herpetological Illustration of Latin American Species by European Scientists/Artists in the 17th-19th Centuries
Department: Art History
Description: This project will analyze European colonialism in Latin America through the unique lens of scientific illustration. It will focus specifically on herpetology, or the study of reptiles and amphibians, conducted in Latin America during the period of westward exploration in the 17th-19th centuries. Before photographs, illustrations were the primary outlet for scientists to record the appearance of exotic species. However, many of these illustrations are unrealistic. This project seeks to understand why these errors exist; were the scientists simply unskilled illustrators, or was something more at play? Colonialism was inextricably linked with Eurocentrism, and the exaggeration of the exoticism of Latin America may have been intentional to sensationalize the West and rationalize colonialism. Herpetology is a particularly unique field due to the Christian association of frogs and reptiles with evil. Furthermore, this project will attempt to identify endangered or extinct species depicted and assess how colonialism affects native fauna.
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Advisor: Alan Braddock
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