The Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) Possibly 1731 - 1743

Editor: So here we have Mark Catesby's "The Flamingo," possibly from between 1731 and 1743, using watercolor and coloured pencil as the medium, eventually turned into a print. There’s almost a stark contrast between the flamingo’s vivid color and the bare tree it's standing in front of. What stands out to you about this piece? Curator: I’m immediately drawn to the process of its creation. Think about the context: Catesby journeying to the Americas, gathering specimens, making sketches in the field. This wasn’t simply about depicting a flamingo; it was about the labour of documenting, classifying, and presenting this "new" world to a European audience. The print format itself speaks to the desire to reproduce and distribute knowledge, a sort of mass production of nature, if you will. Editor: Mass production, even then! What about the actual materials he uses? Curator: Exactly. Consider the materiality of watercolor and coloured pencil. These are relatively inexpensive and portable mediums, well-suited to fieldwork. Yet, the final product, a print, elevates this from a mere field sketch to something meant for consumption – both scientific and aesthetic. Think about how this contrasts with the high art of the period, like oil paintings commissioned by the wealthy. Editor: So, by using these accessible materials, and then turning it into a print, he democratized the image? Curator: In a way, yes. He's blurring the lines between scientific illustration and artistic representation, between high art and the labor of observation and documentation. And even further, think about the societal implications; it showcases nature being turned into a commodity for consumption. Editor: That's a different way of thinking about it than I expected. Thanks, it's made me think a lot about context and how artworks were produced, even in the 18th century. Curator: My pleasure! Examining art through the lens of its production and materials always reveals fascinating layers of meaning and broader societal connections.