Haan met korenhalm 1659

This etching of a rooster, or ‘Haan met korenhalm,’ was made by Albert Flamen, a painter and engraver working in the Netherlands during the mid-17th century. Roosters in Dutch art are symbols of vigilance, courage, and pride, but can also be associated with arrogance. Here, the rooster’s head is bowed as it pecks at a piece of grain. What might this suggest about the society in which Flamen worked? The Dutch Golden Age saw the Netherlands become a major economic power, but this wealth relied on the exploitation of people and resources abroad. Flamen was one of many artists who joined the Guild of Saint Luke. The Guild was an important institution that protected the interests of artists and regulated the art trade. Exploring the Guild’s records can tell us much about the artistic and economic life of the time. Studying art like this makes us think more deeply about the links between artistic representation and the social and political realities of 17th-century Netherlands.