Een papegaay / een arent / swaan en oyevaar / Staan hier na 't leven by elkaar 1770 - 1794

This undated print by Erven Hendrik van der Putte depicts four birds - a parrot, an eagle, a swan, and a stork. These are carefully arranged in separate panels, mimicking a naturalist’s study or perhaps even a page from a child’s educational primer. Made in the Netherlands, this print reflects a growing interest in the natural world, fueled by exploration and trade. But it also speaks to a culture deeply entwined with symbolism. Birds, in particular, often carried moral or allegorical weight, think of how doves symbolized peace, or eagles stood for power. This print, with its somewhat stiff and formal depictions, may have been intended to convey specific social values or lessons. The presence of the parrot in a cage may represent the constraints of society, while the free-flying stork suggests the virtues of independence. Understanding such imagery demands that we consider the historical context. By consulting emblem books, and historical texts on natural history, we can begin to unpack the complex meanings that this print would have held for its original audience.