Vogelkoper c. 1595 - 1610

Gillis van Breen created this etching of a bird seller, called "Vogelkoper," sometime between 1595 and 1622. It offers us a window into the social and economic life of the Dutch Republic. We see a transaction unfolding: a well-dressed woman, accompanied by a servant carrying dead birds, is buying more birds from a rough-looking vendor. The setting, with its urban canal and imposing architecture, suggests a society stratified by class. The dead birds and the tools of the trade – nets and cages – hint at the ecological impact of human activity and the commodification of nature. The image itself, as a print, participates in a growing industry of visual representation. To fully understand this artwork, we can delve into the archives of the Dutch Golden Age. Documents such as market records, social commentaries, and even ornithological studies can shed light on the cultural values and economic realities of the time. This gives art historians a clearer view of what was at stake in the making and viewing of images like "Vogelkoper."