Ziet hier, o jeugd, kan u deez' prent behagen? / Een aantal van gediert' wordt u hier opgedragen 1781 - 1828

This print of birds was created by J. Hendriksen, a book and art printer in Rotterdam. The print presents us with a series of birds, each neatly framed, like specimens in a collector's cabinet. Consider the context in which this print was made. The Dutch Golden Age was a period of intense global trade and exploration, with a growing interest in the natural world. Images like these were not just for decoration, but served as a way to classify and understand the world and the exotic creatures that Dutch ships brought back. Prints like these were part of a broader cultural project and reflect how the West has historically constructed its relationship to the natural world, often through a lens of ownership and control. While seemingly innocent, the act of cataloging and displaying these birds speaks to a desire to dominate and commodify nature. One can almost feel the tension between scientific curiosity and the underlying drive to possess and exploit.