The idealisation of nature in the 18th century had less to do with nature as a place than with the existing injustices that people were trying to compensate for. In other eras too – and to this day – a wide variety of aspects of human experience are associated with ‘nature’.
was a Christian abbess and natural historian whose teachings on the healing powers of nature are still valued today. She saw nature primarily as a divine creation whose diversity follows a complex divine plan. Her image of nature is characterised by symbolism and spirituality.
used the design and shaping of nature to demonstrate his power and glorify himself. He had a magnificent Baroque garden laid out in a uniform, geometric style for the Palace of Versailles. Many European rulers of the time followed his example.
spent a lot of time in nature because of his love of hunting. He pursued his favourite pastime up to 260 days a year, preferably with only a few companions. Although hunting was a prestigious activity, it also served as an escape from the boredom of court life.
was a natural scientist and artist whose work made a decisive contribution to our biological understanding of animals and plants. Her depictions of nature testify to her sensitive and respectful view of the natural world and her deep understanding of the interrelationships between the animal and plant kingdoms.
was one of the most famous composers of the Baroque period. In his work ‘The Four Seasons’, he atmospherically translates the seasonal cycle of the year in nature by imitating weather phenomena, animals and human activities in nature with musical instruments. In his music, one can ‘experience’ the changes in nature instead of just hearing them.
In the 18th century, Jean-Jacques Rousseau criticised the ‘alienation from nature’, which he saw as being caused by the material and social conditions of his time. He coined the idea of the happy ‘natural man’ who strives only for health, freedom and the bare necessities. In his view, ‘nature’ was an ‘unspoiled’ place.
grew up in Kew Gardens and experienced the (landscaped) nature of the gardens as a place of freedom without courtly constraints. At the strict court of Copenhagen, nature became a place of longing, which she sought in her retreat to Traventhal and Hirschholm. Here she was able to escape her official role and find personal fulfilment.
established an important collection of native and exotic plants in Kew, which later became the first botanical garden. Her interest in nature was influenced by politics and the colonial expansion of the British Empire. With her collection, she sought to capture the entirety of nature under British rule.
was not only a poet, but also a natural scientist. During his ‘Italian Journey’ from 1786 to 1788, he studied geology, botany and zoology, among other subjects. He saw nature as something mysterious, but also as a source of truth, order and harmony, while attributing mistakes and errors to humans.
was one of the most important painters of the Romantic period and explored the relationship between nature and humanity. His paintings show humans as part of nature, but also as its counterpart, reflecting on nature.
was the chief of two indigenous American tribes of the Coast Salish. He is credited with a speech that calls for respect for nature and points out the negative consequences of disregarding it. Although it is unclear to what extent the speech attributed to Seattle actually originated from him, it contributed to the development of the Western ecological movement.
was an English writer who criticised the injustices of his society in his novels. Nature is not an idyllic escape, but a mirror of exploitation and poverty caused by industrialisation. It is both threatened and a threat. Dickens' descriptions of nature also emphasise the emotions of his characters.
was an American poet, philosopher and teacher of the 19th century. In his best-known work, Walden, or Life in the Woods, he described his two years of simple and independent life in nature. He regarded survival techniques as ‘inner wealth’ superior to the materialism (‘outer wealth’) of his time.
was an American writer best known for his adventure stories about Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. In his novels, nature is a place of refuge and freedom, but also of trials. It often acts as a harmonious counterpart to the inequality of society.
was an English literary critic, publisher and writer. She used depictions of nature in her works to reflect the inner world and feelings of her characters. Nature stands in particular as a symbol of impermanence and transience.
was a Kenyan environmentalist and politician. Her commitment to nature conservation was closely linked to the fight for women's rights, as she saw the connections between the exploitation of both. For this, she endured multiple imprisonments and abuse and was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
is an artist and philosopher who explores the relationship between nature and technology:
‘[...] we are now manipulating biology down to the level of cells and nanotechnologies. That is why I define nature as everything that grows autonomously. This means that technologies and even the financial system can be understood as nature. They develop autonomously – and are now often beyond the control of their creators.’