['Head of a Cockatoo', 'Head of a Parrot'] 1725 - 1792

Aert Schouman created this likeness of a Cockatoo or Parrot's head in the 18th century. Schouman lived during the height of the Dutch Golden Age, a period marked by extensive global trade and colonization. The presence of exotic birds like this one in Europe speaks volumes about the era’s colonial dynamics. Birds like these were often taken from their native lands and brought to Europe as commodities and symbols of status. The dark plumage of this particular bird is unusual, and its gaze is knowing and perhaps even weary, rather than idealized. Schouman, as an artist, was part of this system, creating images that both reflected and reinforced the prevailing worldview. Yet, in the close detail and attention he gives to the bird, is there also a sense of empathy, a recognition of the individual life behind the exotic display? It invites us to consider the complex relationship between humans and the natural world.