Stilleven met vier eenden Possibly 1844

Cornelis Springer made this watercolor and pencil drawing, "Still Life with Four Ducks," sometime in the mid-19th century. It is part of the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Still life paintings of dead animals were popular in the Netherlands during this period. Often, they were intended to showcase wealth and hunting prowess. This drawing, however, also speaks to a Dutch fascination with the animal world, a world rendered vulnerable through the act of hunting. Here, the ducks are not idealized trophies, but limp, their necks bent at awkward angles, evoking a sense of melancholy. The muted colors and the delicate rendering of the feathers invite a moment of contemplation about nature, and perhaps even a moment of grief over its loss. Springer’s drawing reminds us of the complex relationship between humans and the natural world. It asks us to reflect on our role in it, and the emotional cost of our actions.