Gevangen kwartel 1778 - 1785

Noach van der Meer II created this etching, titled "Gevangen Kwartel," or "Captured Quail," sometime in the 18th century. It depicts two men attempting to capture birds with a cage trap set high in a tree, while another bird flies free. During this period, the natural world was often depicted as a reflection of social hierarchies and human control. Here, the act of trapping and caging birds can be viewed as a metaphor for the constraints placed upon individuals, especially those marginalized by society. The image speaks to human dominance over nature, and perhaps, by extension, of certain humans over others. One might consider how the pursuit of freedom, symbolized by the bird in flight, resonates with the struggles for liberation during this era, marked by burgeoning ideas of equality and human rights. Ultimately, this quiet scene evokes complex questions about freedom, captivity, and the delicate balance between humanity and the natural world.