Onderscheidene vogels / Differents oiseaux 1856 - 1900

This print titled, *Onderscheidene vogels / Differents oiseaux*, meaning distinguished or different birds, was created by Glenisson & Zonen. The family name suggests that this was a business, perhaps a print shop, that specialized in images of this kind. This piece presents a variety of fowl. Each bird is delicately illustrated and then hand-painted with a restrained palette of blues, yellows, and reds. The subjects range from the mundane – ducks and chickens – to the slightly more exotic, such as parrots and peacocks. The prints are labeled in both Dutch and French, suggesting an international market for images of this kind. It is difficult to know what the purpose of this print was. Was it meant as a scientific record, or for simple enjoyment? The subtle differences in plumage between a hen and a rooster, or a duck and a swan, point to a curiosity about the natural world, and the desire to document its varied species. In its own small way, this print speaks to a larger cultural investment in taxonomy and the natural sciences.