Eksotisk fugl 1799 - 1860

Johan Christian Ernst Walter made this watercolor of an exotic bird in Denmark sometime in the first half of the 19th century. The image is of a colorful bird perched on a branch. The bird is likely from a distant land, given the title "Eksotisk fugl," which translates to "Exotic Bird." In Walter's time, Denmark was a colonial power with interests in places like Greenland, Iceland, and India. As such, it was a time of increased global trade and exploration, and images of exotic animals and plants were popular among Europeans. It’s worth considering the social conditions that might have shaped artistic production in Denmark at this time. How did the country's colonial past influence its art? What role did museums and other institutions play in shaping the reception of images like this one? Further research into the artist's life and the cultural context in which he worked would help to reveal the full meaning of this image.