Afgehakte kop van een eend 1775 - 1833

Jean Bernard created this image of a duck's head and neck with graphite, pen, and watercolor in the late 18th or early 19th century. The Enlightenment was in full swing and with it came the desire to dissect, categorize, and study the natural world. But what does it mean to look at the cut off head of a duck? Is it a symbol of the violence inherent in human attempts to dominate nature? Or is it simply an attempt to capture the beauty of the bird's form? I think it is both. The Dutch Republic was a major player in the global trade of the time, and these images would have likely been used to educate traders and merchants on the exotic goods available. However, there is also a sense of intimacy and vulnerability in the way Bernard captures the duck's features. It is a reminder that even in our quest for knowledge and profit, we must not forget the cost to the natural world.