A River Landscape with Turkeys and Poultry 1641 - 1679

Jan van Kessel painted "A River Landscape with Turkeys and Poultry" sometime in the 17th century. In this small yet vivid painting, Kessel depicts a riverbank teeming with various species of fowl. During the Dutch Golden Age, artists like Van Kessel often focused on detailed depictions of the natural world. But don't let the apparent tranquility fool you. These images reflect a complex relationship with nature, one where colonial expansion and trade brought new species into the European consciousness, and the practice of classification became a way of exerting control. The presence of turkeys, a species native to the Americas, speaks volumes about global exchange and the commodification of nature. As you observe the painting, consider how each bird represents a point of intersection between the domestic and the exotic. The emotional impact of this painting lies in the ability to evoke both the beauty of nature and the underlying forces that shape our understanding of it. Consider the emotional and intellectual layers within this small painting. It's not just a picture of birds, it's a reflection on a changing world.