Ooievaar, kraanvogel, reiger en lepelaar 1594

Curator: Nicolaes de Bruyn's 1594 engraving, "Ooievaar, kraanvogel, reiger en lepelaar"—that’s "Stork, crane, heron and spoonbill" for those of us not fluent in Dutch—offers us a fascinating look at birds in the Renaissance. It's currently housed at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: The sheer variety is what strikes me. Each bird seems to be caught in a different state of repose, some proud, others almost comically awkward. The lighting really catches the texture of the feathers. Curator: The engraving technique gives a sharp, linear quality that indeed emphasizes their texture. It's so different from, say, the lushness of oil painting from the period. But it gives the picture clarity that feels both scientific and…fantastical. I feel like I am observing an experiment. Editor: There's a sort of constructed harmony here, isn't there? Even if some of those birds wouldn’t be caught in the same natural habitat in real life. The contrast in sizes also interests me, especially when some seem almost indifferent to others. Do you think he arranged it to give them a specific importance? Curator: I think that’s astute! De Bruyn, influenced by the Northern Renaissance, likely aimed for a more symbolic presentation than a purely realistic one. Each bird, its posture, even its relative size, might carry meaning, drawing on a well-established bestiary tradition. Maybe it even mirrors hierarchies present in the court at the time... We’re so used to scientifically accurate images, it's easy to forget they were working from different presumptions then. Editor: Yes, this doesn't strike me as naturalistic depiction as such, but rather, each one acts as a representative of "birdness." Like a heraldic display almost. And while subtle, there is emotion seeping through from each figure! Even a certain vulnerability. Curator: Absolutely. It is not the most photorealistic representation of birds. Still, the character is revealed in their postures. This helps show the artistry present and reminds us of the different roles animals played for people. Editor: In all, I'd say, this piece manages to be a kind of orderly, but charming parade of avian life. Curator: Precisely. A parade well worth observing.