A Hilly Landscape with a Peacock, an Eagle and other Birds 1660s

Jan van Kessel painted ‘A Hilly Landscape with a Peacock, an Eagle and other Birds’ using oil on copper. The composition teems with life, a dense collection of varied bird species dominates the pictorial space. The landscape provides a backdrop, yet the arrangement of birds takes precedence, creating a tableau of nature’s diversity. The meticulous detail in rendering each bird directs our gaze across the painting, their varied forms and colors demanding attention. Kessel's approach to representing nature can be viewed through a structuralist lens, where each bird acts as a sign, contributing to a larger system of meaning about the natural world. The juxtaposition of different species might reflect the era’s scientific curiosity and categorization of the natural world. Consider the use of copper as a ground; its smooth, reflective surface allows for precise detail, enhancing the almost taxonomic quality of the work. This isn’t just a painting; it’s a compendium, a visual index of avian life.