The Birdwatchers
Nicolaas Verkolje
c. 1744
Medium
paint
Dimensions
h 59cm × w 47cm × d 4cm
Classification
painting
Museum
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
About this artwork
The Birdwatchers and The Anglers, also on this wall, are both full of sexual allusions. While the mood in The Anglers is still cheerful and amorous, here the atmosphere is menacing. Birding is synonymous with making love; however, the consent does not seem to be mutual. One of the women is being assaulted, while the other two come to her aid. The bird the man forces on her was a well-known symbol for the male sex organ.
About the Artist
Nicolaas Verkolje
Comment on works: Conversation; History; Genre