Two Rabbits; verso: blank c. 18th century

Curator: Oudry’s "Two Rabbits," held at the Harvard Art Museums, presents a delicate study of animal forms. There's no given date, but Oudry lived 1686-1755. Editor: It's quite charming, almost melancholic, with those soft washes of color. They seem a bit wary, don’t they? Curator: Indeed. Oudry was known for his detailed animal paintings; he was even the official painter for the royal hunt. This work, however, seems less about grandeur and more about observation. Editor: Which makes me consider the relationship between humans and animals in Oudry's time—the power dynamics, hunting as a privilege of the elite, and how this piece might subtly engage with those themes. Curator: And, one could consider the paper itself, the tools used, as evidence of Oudry's artistic practice, of the means of production inherent in even a seemingly simple work. Editor: It’s a reminder that art, even when depicting something as seemingly innocent as rabbits, is always embedded in social and historical frameworks. Curator: Precisely. It's fascinating how much we can glean from a simple watercolor sketch. Editor: It certainly offers a lens into a complex world, doesn't it?