Summer Duck c. 19th century

Editor: This is "Summer Duck" by Robert Havell Jr., from the Harvard Art Museums collection. The ducks are beautifully rendered, almost hyper-realistic, but there's a stillness that feels staged. What story do you think Havell is trying to tell here? Curator: The staged quality raises interesting questions about our relationship to nature. Consider how this image, likely intended to celebrate American wildlife, also reflects a desire to control and categorize the natural world. How does this impulse connect to broader histories of colonialism and environmental exploitation? Editor: So, it’s not just a pretty picture of ducks. Curator: Precisely! It prompts us to examine the power dynamics inherent in how we represent and interact with nature, and who benefits from those representations. Editor: I never thought about it that way. It gives me a lot to think about. Curator: Indeed, and it shows how art can be a powerful tool for understanding our past and present.