Sluit menu
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Animals have been depicted in paintings for centuries; for scientific purposes, as a decorative element, or for their symbolism. The rooster thus stands for vigilance, joy and reason, for the victory of darkness, with which it is a symbol of light. A rooster also points the way and indicates direction. The dog represents loyalty and sacrifice, especially that of the husband, faith, and vigilance. The goldfinch was a symbol of fertility.
The meaning of birds in the visual arts differs per period and per area. For example, birds symbolized the soul of the ancient Egyptians, they had a decorative function in the fringe decorations of medieval books of hours, and in the 16th century the bird entered nature studies for the first illustrated encyclopedias. In the 17th century, birds often have a sexual meaning in genre scenes. “Birdwatching” then meant, besides bird catching, also having sex with each other. A “bird watcher” stood for a matchmaker or whore boss, but also for the one who played the love game. A bird depicted in a box or cage represents virginity. If the door of the cage is open and the bird has escaped, this refers to careless action that leads to the loss of virginity.
Bird music
Composers and musicians also made use of birds in various ways. They are inspired by birdsong or imitate the sounds of birds in a composition, where the sounds of the nightingale and the cuckoo were favorites. For example, the French baroque composer Jean Philippe Rameau wrote a dialogue between two birds for the piano. The pianist’s left and right hands are already playing ‘chirping’ with each other. Handel also listened carefully to the sounds in the forest and incorporated the cheerful, recognizable call of the cuckoo and the lyrical song of the nightingale in his thirteenth organ concert. In the Toy Symphony by Mozart’s father Leopold, the nightingale and the cuckoo also sing. In his flute concert in D major, Vivaldi portrays the goldfinch – also known as the goldfinch. This beautifully colorful red, white and yellow colored bird has a very social character and his singing is also remarkably cheerful. The excited chirping sound apparently reminded Vivaldi of a flute.
“Vogelen”, in a very different sense than in the 17th century, can enjoy enormous popularity in the 21st century. Birds are hipper than ever and our country now has many bird watchers. More and more young people are also catching the bird’s virus. Traditionally, the birdwatchers were older, bearded men, driving through the country in a dusty suit hundreds of miles in a converted bus to spot a rare bird. But among women in their twenties and thirties, we count more and more bird watchers. About 30,000 people regularly go out into nature in search of new bird happiness, a beautiful bird concert, a breeding blackbird pair or a fluttering spotted woodpecker. “Bird watching is more than just peeping on a twig. It is very exciting and liberating. It also has something romantic. You will visit the most beautiful places, meet new people and enjoy nature together. More and more people fall for it. “According to bird expert Nico de Haan.
