Landscape with Birds 1665 - 1685

Daniel Abbeloos’s large-scale tapestry, *Landscape with Birds*, invites us into the tranquil yet intricately constructed world of 17th-century Flemish artistry. Born in the Catholic south of the Netherlands, Abbeloos would have understood the power of art as propaganda. The absence of people in the landscape is notable, emphasizing nature as a realm of beauty and escape. The tapestry weaves together elements of the natural world with carefully placed birds which are not merely decorative; they are symbols of freedom and the soul. During a period marked by religious conflict and social hierarchies, tapestries like these were commissioned for grand homes, offering glimpses of an idealized world to those who possessed the economic power to obtain them. Consider the immense labor required to create such a piece, reflecting on the economic disparities of the time. The emotional allure of the tapestry lies in its promise of serenity, a space untouched by the turmoil of human affairs, even as its creation and ownership were deeply embedded in the social structures of its time.