Striding Bird; verso: blank c. 18th century

Editor: This is Jean-Baptiste Oudry's "Striding Bird." It's undated but what strikes me is the bird's awkward stance, almost comical. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Oudry's bird offers a glimpse into the power structures of the 18th century. The exotic, almost fantastical, rendering of this bird points to the period's colonial mindset and its fascination with appropriating and displaying the natural world. How does this depiction contribute to the construction of knowledge about the "other?" Editor: That's a good point. It does feel like this bird is being presented as an object for study, not necessarily as a living creature. Curator: Exactly! It prompts us to consider the relationship between scientific observation and the objectification of nature, and how art played a role in shaping those perceptions. Editor: I hadn't considered the colonial implications before. Thank you. Curator: These historical contexts can truly open our eyes!