Twaalf vogels op takken c. 1630

This etching, "Twelve Birds on Branches", was created by Bartholomeus van Lochom in the 17th century. Here, the birds, perched on delicate branches, serve as symbols that transcend the boundaries of this small print. Birds have long captured our collective imagination, flitting through art history from ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs representing the human soul to Christian symbols of peace and the Holy Spirit. Recall the birds in illuminated manuscripts, their vibrant plumage adorning sacred texts, or even further back to Minoan frescoes. The motif of birds reappears in art and literature, each time carrying a freight of cultural meaning, influenced by our hopes and fears. Even today, the echo of these symbols resonate deeply within us. They speak to our innate desire for freedom, our longing for connection with nature. This little etching offers a window into how symbols evolve, constantly reshaped by cultural memory and the subtle forces of the subconscious.