Dode houtsnip (Scolopax rusticola) 1700 - 1755

This study of a 'Dead Woodcock' was made by Jean-Baptiste Oudry using black and white chalk. The image of a lifeless bird carries a poignant symbolism that resonates deeply with cultural memory. This motif appears throughout art history, often representing fragility and mortality. Think of similar images across different cultures and eras, from ancient Roman mosaics depicting hunting scenes to Dutch still life paintings. These recurrent images tap into our collective awareness of life's transient nature. The woodcock's limp posture and glazed eye evoke a sense of vulnerability, triggering empathy and reflection on the cyclical nature of life. Oudry's choice to focus solely on the bird, devoid of any background elements, intensifies this emotional impact, compelling us to confront our own understanding of mortality. Consider how such images of death and stillness can provoke introspection, continually resurfacing throughout art history with subtle variations in meaning, yet always echoing our shared human experience.