Stilleven met pauwen Rembrandt Harmenszoon Van Rijn (1606-1669)

In this painting, a still life is depicted with two peacocks, one of which is hanging upside down, suggesting it has been recently killed or prepared for consumption. The other peacock lies on a ledge, its head also hanging down, with a small pool of blood beneath it, reinforcing the theme of death and sacrifice.
Behind the birds, a basket filled with fruits and vegetables is visible, adding a touch of color and suggesting abundance or the harvest. To the left, a young boy is peeking out from a dark opening, his gaze directed towards the scene. He appears to be an observer, perhaps representing innocence witnessing mortality, or a viewer being drawn into the narrative of the artwork.
The overall mood of the painting is somber and slightly unsettling, amplified by the use of chiaroscuro, a technique that employs strong contrasts between light and dark to create a dramatic effect. The rich textures of the peacock feathers and the rendered fruits, combined with the subtle rendering of the boys face and the bloodstains, contribute to the paintings realism and emotional depth. The inclusion of the boy might also allude to themes of transience and the cycle of life and death, or even the contrast between the fragility of youth and the stark reality of mortality.