Waad- en kustvogels 1547 - 1590

"Waad- en kustvogels" (Wading and Coastal Birds) is an etching created between 1547 and 1590 by Philips Galle, a prominent Flemish printmaker. This detailed print, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, depicts nine different bird species in a naturalistic setting. The artist’s meticulous attention to detail and the use of hatching techniques give the birds a sense of three-dimensionality. The inscription at the bottom of the image indicates that the work was created in collaboration with Marcus Gerardus, a renowned naturalist. This artwork is a testament to the scientific interest in ornithology during the Renaissance, combining aesthetic beauty with scientific observation.