Garden Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) – Original Hand-Colored Engraving by Elisabeth Blackwell

This refined botanical engraving depicts the Garden Cucumber (Cucumis sativus), presenting the plant with clarity across flowering, fruiting, and seed-bearing stages.

Rendered with careful attention to structure, its trailing stems and broad, textured leaves create a dynamic yet legible composition. Elisabeth Blackwell’s approach balances botanical accuracy with visual rhythm, allowing each element to be read distinctly while maintaining overall harmony.

Created in the early eighteenth century, this plate belongs to A Curious Herbal, a foundational medical and botanical work distinguished by the unity of its production, in which drawing, copper engraving, and hand-colouring were executed by the same hand.

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Visual and Aesthetic Analysis

The composition unfolds along a sinuous, climbing stem, punctuated by curling tendrils that introduce movement and continuity. Large, veined leaves anchor the image, while the elongated fruit provides a strong visual counterpoint to the softer floral forms.

Subtle tonal gradations give volume to the leaves and fruit, while the restrained hand-colouring preserves clarity and balance. The sectional depiction of the fruit and seeds reinforces the analytical intent of the engraving without disrupting its visual flow.

About the Subject

The garden cucumber (Cucumis sativus) was firmly established in early European herbals as a cultivated plant associated with “cooling” properties and practical domestic use. In period medicine it was often discussed in relation to soothing preparations and diet, where the fruit’s watery character and mildness were considered significant. Because cucurbits can vary markedly in form as they mature, accurate depiction of flower, developing fruit, and seed was essential for reliable identification and for distinguishing cultivated cucumbers from related gourds. Blackwell’s inclusion of multiple stages and a sectional view reflects the practical aim of A Curious Herbal: to provide dependable visual references for plants used in everyday household and apothecary contexts.

Condition Report

The engraving is in exceptionally fine antique condition, printed on original handmade laid paper typical of early 18th-century botanical publications. A period watermark is visible on the sheet, consistent with contemporary papermaking practices. The surface remains fresh and stable, with no notable defects. The original hand-colouring is particularly well preserved, and the impression is crisp and legible throughout. These qualities correspond to a “like brand new” state of preservation and confirm the authenticity of the print as an original production from A Curious Herbal. The engraved credit “Eliz. Blackwell delin. sculp. et pinx.” is present and fully legible, attesting that the drawing, engraving, and hand-colouring were executed by Elisabeth Blackwell herself.

Details

• Artist: Elisabeth Blackwell
• Work / Publication: A Curious Herbal
• Period: 1737–1739
• Technique: Original copper engraving, drawn, engraved, and hand-colored by Elisabeth Blackwell
• Paper: Original handmade laid paper
• Watermark: Period watermark visible
• Sheet size: approx. 37 × 22 cm

For further context on Elisabeth Blackwell and the singular unity of authorship behind A Curious Herbal, see our editorial feature:

Elisabeth Blackwell – A Curious Herbal