During the age of European imperial colonization, the art of European scientific and geographic illustration often received state support, while often serving to further economic or imperial ventures. This led to vast improvements in European knowledge of the natural world, as evidenced through increasingly accurate maps as well as detailed depictions of flora and fauna. Delve into the historical connections between scientists, colonists, and artists here.

Featured Exhibit

The Northeastern University Library is excited to introduce the prints and maps within the Picturing the World collection to its students, faculty, and the greater community. In addition to the presenting digitized versions of each piece located on this website, as well as the full archival-quality files available through the Digital Repository Service, Northeastern has integrated the physical prints within campus classrooms, where they have been analyzed in several courses.

In the Classroom

A cartographic revolution propelled Dutch artists to represent the world with scientific precision. With hallmarks such as the first modern European atlas, 16th-century Antwerp became a center of trade, craftsmanship, and colonization. Trace the pathways of collaboration and innovation among cartographers of this era of Dutch history through this exhibit.

Featured Exhibit