Flora - Limited Edition 1 of 10 Photograph

These images were created from 19th century tintypes that I appropriate. Tintypes were the first practical means of recording ones image. In many cases this may have been ones first and only portrait. In this series my use of the sphere is a reference to Darwin’s work with biological determination; a held belief that women were "the weaker" sex. This fueled the idea that men and women inhabit separate spheres. Sphere's were strictly defined by gender and a women’s was in the home as wife and mother. To go beyond her sphere women found they were limited. Botanical illustration was permitted as long as it was to confirm the existence of God. Once the study progressed from illustration to science it became dominated by men. This also occurred in other fields, for example medicine. Originally women, some known as healers and midwives were dependent upon for healing the sick, this was eventually considered out of their sphere and men again dominated. I have chosen to use poisonous plants in this series. Though beautiful, these plants hold these women "in place". As in the Garden of Eden, when women gained knowledge they suffered. Plant: Moonflower, Ipomoea alba