Vier kalkoenen 1610 - 1653

Simon de Vlieger made this etching of four turkeys sometime in the first half of the 17th century. The image is small and unassuming but its subject matter speaks to a key moment in the cultural and economic history of the Netherlands. The Dutch Golden Age was a period of unprecedented prosperity, driven by international trade. Exotic goods poured into Dutch ports, transforming the diets and lifestyles of its citizens. The turkey, native to the Americas, was one such import. Before long, it had become a popular dish and a symbol of status. De Vlieger’s etching then is more than just a barnyard scene. It is a glimpse into a society undergoing rapid change, where new commodities were reshaping social norms. To understand the image more fully, one might delve into the archives of the Dutch East India Company or study cookbooks of the period. These resources would reveal the complex networks of exchange that brought the turkey to Europe, and the social meanings that attached to it.