Lactuca Perennis
1760
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1760
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This image shows a dried plant pressed flat between two sheets. The leaves are jagged with holes, and a thin stem holds small buds. The whole thing is drawn in ink, almost like a shadow. The plant is labeled *Lactuca Perennis*—that’s its scientific name. It looks like someone pressed it between pages to study it, then traced the shape. This kind of careful drawing was common in old science books. If you like this style, look up Kniphof, Johann Hieronymus.
