Peacock and Stork 1580

Editor: Here we have Adriaen Collaert's "Peacock and Stork," a fascinating engraving featuring two birds in a detailed landscape. The contrast between the peacock's ornate tail and the stork's simple form is striking. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Collaert's work participates in a visual tradition linking animals to human characteristics, especially vice and virtue. The peacock, historically a symbol of vanity, is juxtaposed with the stork, associated with piety. The setting itself–a cultivated landscape–speaks to human intervention in nature. How do you think this interplay between nature and culture informs the piece's meaning? Editor: That's a really interesting perspective. I hadn't considered the moral dimension of the animals. Thanks!