Christmas Card from Helen and Dick Bishop 1934

Curator: Before us is a 1934 Christmas card, an etching by Richard Evett Bishop, wishing holiday cheer from him and his wife, Helen. Editor: There's an austere quality to it, I think. Despite the implied cheer, the stark landscape and the serious faces of the ducks give a more melancholic mood. Curator: Perhaps that starkness reflects the broader social climate. The work was produced during the Great Depression. Images of wildlife, particularly waterfowl like these, carried potent symbolic weight for those experiencing displacement. It speaks of migration, struggle, and finding refuge—resonating, no doubt, with those facing economic hardship and forced movement. Editor: And these specific birds—their posture suggests landing, a coming down or perhaps even a forced descent. Ducks often represent adaptation and resourcefulness, but here, the image feels fraught, a little desperate. Their wings beat against a muted, almost oppressive, sky. Curator: The landing gesture could symbolize the need for solidarity and collective action. Bishop was known for his detailed studies of waterfowl; the fact that he placed them against this almost desolate background perhaps intentionally highlighted their vulnerability within a system indifferent to their needs. Editor: I think it's fascinating how a seemingly simple image can hold such complex emotional and symbolic layers. The texture created by the etching itself adds to the feeling, almost like looking through a scratched window. The hope implied by the Christmas message is shadowed by this more complicated imagery. Curator: And for me, situating Bishop's print within the context of American history brings to light how something intended for simple celebration can carry poignant and multifaceted layers, relevant even now as we confront social precarity, environmental damage, and human displacement. Editor: Yes, a good reminder that even the most festive symbols can be potent mirrors of societal tensions, resonating across decades through deeply held cultural narratives.