Male bird of paradise and the head of a middle-aged man in profile to the left; also details of 1520 - 1525

Here we have a drawing by Hans Baldung, featuring a bird of paradise alongside the profile of a middle-aged man. The bird of paradise, then newly introduced to Europe, was a symbol of exotic beauty and divine perfection, often linked to the idea of paradise itself. Note how the motif of birds appears across cultures as messengers between the earthly and spiritual realms. Think of the dove representing the Holy Spirit in Christian iconography, or the ancient Egyptian belief in the soul's ability to transform into a bird after death. Here, Baldung juxtaposes this symbol of otherworldly beauty with the very earthly image of a man, inviting a comparison between the transient beauty of nature and the mortal concerns of human existence. It's fascinating how symbols persist, transform, and resurface, reflecting our collective subconscious, constantly evolving through time.