Wie Ich Zwei Schwedische Botaniker Für Mich Gewann, Oder: Der Glückliche Ausgang Eines Gescheiterten Projektes

This article describes the author’s first encounter with the two botanists Ingvar Kärnefelt and Arne Thell, which arose in connection with the planning and development of a trans-national, European exhibition project on the history of botanical illustrations. Although this wonderful exhibition project would have brought together institutions in Switzerland, Germany, Sweden and Poland, it was abandoned due to complicated bureaucratic obstacles imposed by EU funding programmes; however, the collaboration at least resulted in a wonderful friendship between Ingvar Kärnefelt, Arne Thell and the author, a friendship that has endured for almost two decades. In addition to the narrative of these encounters, the exhibition project is briefly presented.