Hollandse vogel Possibly 1770 - 1787

Jan Brandes created this watercolor of a "Hollandse vogel," or Dutch bird, around the turn of the 19th century. Watercolors, prized for their portability and quick-drying nature, were essential tools for naturalists and explorers of the period. The delicate washes of pigment create a soft, almost ethereal rendering of the bird and its surroundings. But don’t be fooled: while painting may seem a genteel pastime, it was in fact a crucial part of scientific documentation. In Brandes’s time, European powers were expanding their reach across the globe, enabled by the industrial revolution. Explorers meticulously recorded the flora and fauna of newly "discovered" lands. These images, like Brandes’s bird, were integral to that process, contributing to a growing understanding of the natural world, but also furthering the colonial project. So, when you look at this seemingly simple watercolor, remember it's more than just a pretty picture: it's a window into a world of scientific exploration, and economic ambition.