Plate 62: Northern Bald Ibis and Glossy Ibis with Other Birds c. 1575 - 1580

Joris Hoefnagel created this watercolor and gouache on paper, a detailed study of birds. It's not just about representation, but about the very act of meticulous rendering. Look closely, and you'll notice how the artist has used watercolor to build up layers of delicate color, creating a sense of depth and texture in the birds' plumage. Gouache adds opacity, bringing highlights and details to life. The process is labor-intensive. Each feather, each beak, each tiny detail of the landscape is carefully observed and recreated. In Hoefnagel's time, the meticulous, handmade quality of such works was highly valued. Today, we might reflect on how this contrasts with our contemporary world of mass production and digital imagery, a world where images are created and disseminated with incredible ease. This artwork is not about labor, politics, and consumption, but about human labor and meticulous skill to draw nature. Ultimately, this artwork reminds us of the importance of slowing down, paying attention, and appreciating the skill and effort that goes into creating something beautiful by hand.