Merian departs for Suriname with her daughter to study tropical insects.
In 1699, at 52, Maria Sibylla Merian undertook a daring expedition to the Dutch colony of Suriname, a bold move unexpected of women of her time. She traveled with her daughter Dorothea to study the region's insects, plants, and animals in their natural tropical habitats.
This expedition was significant as it represented one of the first cases of a woman leading an independent scientific exploration into uncharted land for research purposes. Her decision to study the Surinamese jungle on her own terms was groundbreaking. It also contradicted the social norms of 17th-century Europe, where adventurous voyages were predominantly male undertakings. Merian's studies during this expedition laid the groundwork for her subsequent works that would illuminate the complexities of tropical ecosystems to the scientific communities in Europe.