Zittende gier, naar links 1864 - 1936

Jan van Essen created this pencil drawing of a vulture, titled ‘Zittende gier, naar links’, or ‘Sitting vulture, facing left’, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. During this period, naturalism was a prevailing artistic movement in the Netherlands, emphasizing accurate depictions of the everyday world. It's interesting to consider how van Essen’s choice of subject aligns with or diverges from these trends. Vultures, often associated with death and decay, might have carried different symbolic meanings in the cultural context of the time. Studying van Essen’s biography and the artistic institutions he was involved with could provide insight into his artistic choices. Examining historical texts and cultural artifacts from the period could reveal how vultures were perceived and represented in Dutch society, shedding light on the social commentary embedded in this seemingly simple drawing.