Twee vogels: een blauwe gaai en een purperborstcotinga 1760

"Twee vogels: een blauwe gaai en een purperborstcotinga" (Two Birds: A Blue Jay and a Purple-breasted Cotinga) is a watercolor on paper created by Dutch artist Aert Schouman in 1760. The artwork features a detailed portrayal of two birds perched on branches, with a blue jay in the upper portion of the composition and a purple-breasted cotinga in the lower portion. The realistic representation of the birds’ feathers and the subtle details of their natural environment showcase Schouman's skill in ornithological illustration. This watercolor, currently housed in the Rijksmuseum, exemplifies the Dutch Golden Age’s fascination with natural history and scientific observation, and demonstrates Schouman’s expertise in capturing the beauty and complexity of the natural world.