Lucht 1622 - 1652

Pieter van Avont created this small engraving, titled "Lucht", meaning air or sky, in the Netherlands sometime in the first half of the 17th century. The cherubic figure is a classical, almost Italianate element, and the style of engraving is typical of Antwerp, where van Avont spent much of his career. But note the parrot perched on the figure’s finger. In the 17th century, these birds were often imported to Europe from the colonies and were kept as luxury pets, markers of wealth and global trade. The image thus serves as a window into the social structures of the time, reflecting the growing influence of global commerce on European society. To understand it better, we could delve into the history of Dutch trade during this period, examining the kinds of goods and commodities that were being imported, and the social and economic impact this trade had on Dutch society.