Plant Fantasy c. 18th century

Curator: This is Jeanne Deny's "Plant Fantasy," an etching brimming with strange life. The artwork's date is unknown, and it is held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels like a dream, doesn't it? All these peculiar plant-bird hybrids. What do they signify, I wonder? Curator: Deny, working in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, was captivated by nature and botanical illustration was a means for her to explore the natural world. I think this is more than just a literal depiction. Editor: Perhaps it's a visual representation of the transformational power of nature. Birds representing freedom and transformation. The merging of these two symbolizes the constant cycle of change. I find it captivating. Curator: It’s that dreamlike quality, the blurring of boundaries, that really stays with you. These strange beings suggest a hidden language of the plant world. Editor: It's as if she is inviting us into a world where imagination and nature dance together.