Cock; Hen; Chicken; Dove 

Curator: This print, attributed to Francis Barlow, presents us with an interesting gathering of fowl. Its title includes "Cock; Hen; Chicken; Dove." Editor: It feels like a slightly chaotic farmyard scene, doesn't it? All that scratching and pecking rendered with such fine lines. Curator: Barlow’s known for his animal studies. Notice how each bird seems imbued with its own personality, yet they all reflect symbolic attributes linked to domesticity. Editor: The rooster's strut is undeniable, and there is something about the doves in the corner that makes me think of peace. Curator: Exactly. The rooster as a symbol of vigilance, the dove representing harmony… these were potent visual shorthands. Editor: The landscape is almost secondary but important. It adds this layer of bucolic nostalgia. Curator: Perhaps a commentary on simple virtues, the good life—or, maybe just a charming barnyard portrait. It really speaks to the way humans project meaning onto animals. Editor: Yes, it does make you wonder what stories we tell through the creatures that share our spaces.