Spiegelpauw 1759 - 1842

The Spiegelpauw, or Grey Peacock-Pheasant, was drawn by Pieter Pietersz. Barbiers using pencil and watercolor. The effect is delicate, but don't let that fool you. This kind of image, though seemingly just a neutrally observed record of the natural world, was a crucial tool of colonial administration. The very act of capturing the bird on paper – its form, texture, and coloring rendered with such detail - suggests an impulse to possess it. The skill required to produce such a study came at a price. Barbiers, like other artists working for the Dutch East India Company, was highly trained. His work, with its meticulous attention to detail, was critical to the scientific and economic exploitation of the region. So next time you see a natural history drawing, consider the social context, as well as the beauty of the depicted subject.