Chapter 1, History - Contexts, Voyage, People, Collections (original) (raw)

The paper explores the expedition led by Bruni d'Entrecasteaux in 1791, which aimed to locate La Pérouse's ships while contributing to the scientific knowledge of the era. It contextualizes the voyage within the political upheaval in France and the evolving intellectual landscapes of the late Enlightenment, showcasing the role of naturalists, artists, and engineers involved in the mission. Furthermore, it addresses the changing practices of collecting exotic artifacts and the impact of these endeavors on the ethnographic collections resulting from the expedition.