De vogeltjes die Gy hier ziet, / ô lieve kindren! zingen niet, / Zy zyn ook man en dras te vangen, / Gy hoefd ze in geen kooi te hangen 1791 - 1812

This broadside, printed by Jacobus Thompson in Rotterdam, presents rows of birds, each within its square, like specimens pinned for study. The accompanying verses caution, ‘These birds you see here do not sing, they are too wild to be caught, you need not hang them in a cage.’ Birds, historically, have carried rich symbolism. They’re messengers of gods in antiquity, representing freedom, the soul, or even the Holy Spirit in Christian iconography. Think of doves descending in countless Annunciation scenes, or the phoenix rising, reborn from ashes, a symbol of resilience. But here, these birds are emphatically not for capture. Perhaps this reflects a shift – an emerging awareness of nature's intrinsic value, or a critique of humanity’s impulse to dominate. The image hints at a psychological tension: our desire to control versus the respect for untamed life. Thus, Thompson's birds become a reminder that some symbols evolve. Their flight continues, carrying meanings shaped by the changing winds of culture and consciousness.