Vogelkooi 1731

This silver birdcage was made by Pieter van Somerwil in the first half of the 18th century. At this time, the Dutch Republic was a leading colonial power, renowned for its global trade networks. As such, the birdcage is more than a decorative curiosity, but a microcosm of the human relationship to nature at this time. The preciousness of the material suggests that this cage was made for a wealthy family. But consider the implications of a cage for a bird: domestic comfort at the expense of freedom. This tension speaks to the nature of the Dutch Republic itself, where mercantile wealth was predicated on colonial exploitation. The fashion for bird ownership was a form of conspicuous consumption. To understand this object better, we must consider the global flow of goods during the 18th century. Objects like this can reveal the social and political conditions of artistic production, so we use archival sources to understand the institutions that shape our perception of art.