The Pinhole: Making Pictures with a Box of Air pg 2-32

I have just recently been introduced to Cabinets of Curiosity in my Art History 490 class. Cabinets of Curiosity were a prevalent part of society in the 16th and 18th centuries and are considered by some to be the first museums. These cabinets held objects often of scientific importance or unknown items. The objects often related to another and could be seen as an early cataloging of nature, culture, and science. I found it very interesting that Christopher James referred to a camera obscurer as a form of cabinet of curiosity. He states that a camera obscurer is similar to the cabinet of curiosity “with its interior filled with light curiosities”. I believe this to be an interesting observation. I agree both are holding an obscure thing and both are related to science.