Vignet met een kalkoen en het wapen van de stad Haarlem 17th century

This anonymous engraving presents a vignette with a turkey and the coat of arms of the city of Haarlem. The composition centres on a circular frame encompassing the robust form of a turkey, meticulously detailed with dense cross-hatching to define its plumage. Above, the Haarlem coat of arms is flanked by scrolls, contributing to a symmetrical yet dynamic design. The interplay between the naturalistic rendering of the bird and the heraldic formality of the coat of arms creates a compelling tension. This tension invites a semiotic reading: the turkey, an exotic import, juxtaposed with the established civic symbol, prompts contemplation on themes of trade, cultural exchange, and the incorporation of the new into the old. The artist’s structural arrangement, placing the turkey within a circle adorned with text, transforms the animal into a symbol, ripe for interpretation. This piece highlights how an artwork, through its formal elements, engages with broader historical and cultural narratives, inviting us to reflect on how societies define and represent themselves.