Peacocks, Ducks and other Animals 1631

Gijsbert Gillisz. de Hondecoeter created this menagerie on canvas with oils, and it’s teeming with feathered life. Dominating the scene, the peacock parades its plumage—a symbol of immortality and pride since antiquity. This motif has journeyed through time, appearing in Roman mosaics, where it was believed its flesh didn’t decay, to the Renaissance courts, where it strutted as a symbol of noble status. But look at the wings of the duck that are raised in an almost theatrical display, a gesture reminiscent of the ecstatic poses of nymphs in classical art. It’s as if the artist unconsciously channeled ancient gestures of revelry and metamorphosis. The peacock's hypnotic display, laden with eyes, might evoke a feeling of being watched, stirring primal anxieties. In the collective subconscious, such symbols never truly disappear; they transform, resurface, and invite us to confront our deepest, most enduring emotions.