Opgezette ruigpootbuizerd 1871 - 1876

Here we have a photograph by William Notman depicting a rough-legged buzzard. The buzzard, perched with a piercing gaze, carries the weight of centuries of symbolism. Across cultures, birds of prey are associated with power, vision, and spiritual ascension. Think of the Roman eagle, emblem of imperial authority, or the falcon in ancient Egyptian iconography, representing the god Horus and divine kingship. This buzzard, too, evokes a sense of dominance. Yet, unlike the soaring eagle, it is confined within the frame, a stillness that perhaps hints at a different kind of power: the power of observation, of being present. The image speaks to our collective fascination with the natural world. It is a fascination that taps into deep-seated psychological needs for understanding and control. This buzzard, rendered in meticulous detail, invites us to contemplate our relationship with nature, a relationship fraught with both wonder and the desire to dominate. The buzzard, however, maintains its autonomy. It stands as a timeless symbol of untamed nature.