In his Choruses from the Rock, T.S. Eliot ponders the question, “where is the knowledge we have lost in information?” In today’s information-driven society, we have become disconnected from the ability to learn and make meaningful connections. However, the rapid spread of technology has allowed for the opening of vast digital archives of primary sources, granting ordinary users access to information previously only available to historians. One such archive is the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection, which features over 7,500 paintings, drawings, and wax models commissioned by the USDA between 1886 and 1942. Through the collection, users can explore the variety of fruit cultivated during that time, providing a unique glimpse into the history of agriculture. The collection was made publicly available after a Freedom of Information Act request in 2015, highlighting the intersection of free speech and copyright. Despite its utilitarian purpose, the collection’s simple beauty and visual nuances make it a pleasurable exploration. The USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection is accessible for users to download high-resolution digital images.
https://www.openculture.com/2019/06/the-us-government-commissioned-7500-watercolor-paintings.html