Auerhaan 1759 - 1842

Pieter Pietersz. Barbiers created this image of an Auerhaan, or wood grouse, with pen and watercolor. Barbiers lived through the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, and the rise of Romanticism. He was positioned at the nexus of major shifts in how people thought about nature and their relationship to it. This artwork depicts the male of the species, known for its distinctive coloration and larger size. Consider how representing it as a solitary figure affects our reading, as it reinforces traditional gender roles. These birds were often symbols of the wilderness, spaces increasingly romanticized yet simultaneously threatened by human expansion. The artist meticulously captures the bird's plumage. Yet think about the emotional impact of rendering a creature so intricately, while its natural habitat faced increasing disruption. It prompts a dialogue about preservation, the shifting balance between humanity and the natural world, and our emotional response to such changes.