Two Hunched Pheasants; verso: blank c. 18th century

Curator: This is Jean-Baptiste Oudry’s “Two Hunched Pheasants,” a watercolor drawing now residing at the Harvard Art Museums. What strikes you initially about it? Editor: The colors! They're muted and almost whimsical. It’s hard to tell if they’re intentionally off, or if this reflects something about the pheasants' environment or even their treatment. Curator: Oudry was deeply involved in tapestry design. Considering the intense labor of weaving, could this drawing be a study exploring color combinations or textures for a larger piece? The verso is blank, suggesting it might have been a preliminary sketch, focusing solely on the birds themselves. Editor: Precisely. The lack of context is unsettling, isn't it? Pheasants often symbolize luxury and hunting culture. Are these birds commodities? Or are they being framed as symbols of power for the elite? Curator: Interesting considerations. Oudry often worked for the French court. Maybe the reality is both. Editor: So, it seems what appears decorative also reveals social structures of the time. Curator: Indeed; it's fascinating how the simple rendering can invite so many perspectives. Editor: I’ll definitely be thinking about the power dynamics at play here.