Beziet en koopt nu jong en oud / Dees pluym-gedierte uyt het woud 1725 - 1780

This undated print, “Beziet en koopt nu jong en oud / Dees pluym-gedierte uyt het woud” which roughly translates to 'Look and buy now, young and old / This feathered creature from the woods', was made by Johannes Kannewet. Kannewet, an Amsterdam bookseller, likely created this print as a form of advertisement. During this time, the printing press democratized access to information, but it also transformed visual culture. In this context, the detailed, almost scientific renderings of birds are fascinating. Birds have long been symbolic creatures, often representing freedom or the soul. Yet here, they're explicitly commodified, presented for sale. The commercial aspect of the print jars with our contemporary sensibilities about the natural world, pushing us to confront historical attitudes towards wildlife and nature. It leaves one wondering about the relationship between commerce, representation, and our ever-evolving understanding of nature's intrinsic value.