Domestic fowl with a pheasant and peacocks 

Melchior d'Hondecoeter, around 1660-1690, painted "Domestic fowl with a pheasant and peacocks" during the Dutch Golden Age, a time when Dutch art celebrated national pride, commerce, and a growing middle class. While Hondecoeter specialized in painting birds, note the way he differentiated the composition by including domestic fowl along with more exotic species like the pheasant and peacocks. Consider how this juxtaposition reflects the Dutch Republic's global trade networks and the accessibility of luxury items. These fowl are placed in a hierarchy, as the peafowl, with their spectacular plumage and association with wealth and status, are posed prominently in the background. In contrast, the white hen in the foreground cares for her young. Through his detailed depictions, Hondecoeter invites us to reflect on our relationship with nature, class, and the world we create around ourselves.