Ein Paradiesvogel und ein Rabe 

Aert Schouman painted this watercolor titled 'Ein Paradiesvogel und ein Rabe,' or "A Bird of Paradise and a Raven," sometime in the 18th century. The combination of birds, one exotic and one familiar, hints at the burgeoning Dutch colonial enterprises. Here, Schouman is cataloging the natural world as it became increasingly accessible through global trade. The raven, native to Europe, is placed in direct comparison with the bird of paradise from New Guinea, a commodity of increasing desire for European collectors. The detailed rendering speaks to the scientific impulse of the Enlightenment, but the aesthetic choices, like the soft brushstrokes and delicate coloring, reveal the artist's cultural preferences. To fully understand this piece, we can look to the records of the Dutch East India Company, travel logs, and the illustrated encyclopedias of the period. These resources help us to see how art serves as a reflection of its social and institutional context.