{"product_id":"two-exotic-birds-aert-schouman","title":"Two Exotic Birds - Aert Schouman","description":"\u003cp\u003eA detailed natural history study by Aert Schouman, featuring a Guianan cock-of-the-rock and a smaller companion bird in watercolour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAert Schouman was a Dutch painter and engraver who gained recognition for his meticulous studies of natural history. This watercolour depicts two avian subjects perched upon branches, rendered with the precision characteristic of eighteenth-century scientific illustration. The larger bird, a Guianan cock-of-the-rock, dominates the composition with its distinctive crest and warm, orange plumage. Beside it, a smaller, more subtly coloured bird provides a contrast in scale and tone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSchouman frequently worked from specimens housed in the menageries and cabinets of curiosities that were popular among the Dutch elite during this period. His approach combines scientific observation with a decorative sensibility. The artist employs a delicate application of watercolour, building up the texture of the feathers through fine brushwork and layered washes. The background remains sparse, allowing the viewer to focus entirely on the anatomical details of the birds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis work reflects the broader European fascination with exotic fauna brought back from colonial expeditions. Schouman was particularly adept at capturing the specific posture and character of his subjects, moving beyond mere diagrammatic representation to create a sense of life. The muted tones of the branches and the distant, suggested horizon line serve to ground the birds within a natural context, while the clean paper surface maintains the clarity of the original study. As a practitioner of the late Dutch tradition, Schouman maintained a high standard of technical execution, ensuring that his illustrations remained both accurate records and aesthetic objects. This print captures the subtle gradations of colour and the soft, layered quality of the original watercolour, preserving the artist's careful observation of light and form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/steppe-cornfield-arkhip-kuindzhi\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eSteppe. Cornfield - Arkhip Kuindzhi — Arkhip Kuindzhi\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/a-spring-by-the-sea-jules-breton\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eA Spring by the Sea - Jules Breton — Jules Breton\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Aert Schouman","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58443633688911,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58443640701263,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58443640734031,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58443640766799,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58443640799567,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58443640832335,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58443640865103,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58443640897871,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58443640930639,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58443640963407,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58443640996175,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58443641028943,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Two-Exotic-Birds_Poster_CompositorV1_1786236207411.jpg?v=1786416676","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/products\/two-exotic-birds-aert-schouman","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}