Twee vogels: een blauwe gaai en een purperborstcotinga 1760

Curator: Here we have "Twee vogels: een blauwe gaai en een purperborstcotinga," or "Two Birds: A Blue Jay and a Purple-breasted Cotinga" by Aert Schouman, created around 1760. It’s a watercolor and drawing on paper, currently residing in the Rijksmuseum. My immediate thought is the detail in the feathers. The artist captured such vibrancy in the coloring, even with just watercolor. Editor: I'm drawn to the Rococo sensibility, and its reflection in naturalist depictions. What can we glean about the relationship of such images to larger society at the time? It would be enlightening to delve deeper into the colonial enterprise which made such exotic specimens visible at this point in the late Enlightenment. Curator: That’s a great point. This piece isn’t just an innocent portrayal of birds; it reveals a broader cultural fascination with the natural world fueled by exploration and colonization. Schouman, of course, wasn’t the first to render these newly available bird species visible for broader European culture. The politics of imagery is definitely palpable. Editor: Exactly. How are these exotic specimens captured, transported, studied? Who is afforded the right to observe them? We should explore the material implications and modes of artistic production which facilitated the piece itself. What paper was used? How was the pigment sourced and crafted? The value isn’t solely in the image itself, but in understanding its material reality. Curator: Those artistic considerations shouldn't be taken lightly, the Rococo movement influencing this drawing clearly focuses on the graceful branch work of their perches to create a harmonious background. Also, it's a testament to Schouman’s skills, mastering those watercolors so carefully almost makes them lifelike in quality. Editor: Absolutely. We've covered significant ground regarding its colonial context, from the labour of its making to the structures allowing consumption of art like this, providing valuable dimensions of consideration that shift perspective on Schouman's creation. Curator: It is really a reflection of the era, where naturalism and the artist's skillful execution allow us a glimpse of an era defined by colonialism. Editor: It shows us a lot to chew on; I am convinced listeners can reflect on the material processes behind this drawing to recognize historical impact on visual creation, thereby reshaping assumptions about Rococo artistic representation.