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Editor: This engraving by Francis Barlow depicts an owl surrounded by smaller, agitated birds. It feels like a moment of confrontation, but what's the story here? Curator: Consider the owl's historical symbolism, often linked to wisdom but also darkness and predation. Barlow likely drew on folklore where the owl is ostracized or attacked by other birds. What public role might such a scene play? Editor: Maybe it's a commentary on social hierarchy or the fear of outsiders? It makes me wonder about the politics of animal imagery. Curator: Precisely. Barlow's image perhaps reflects anxieties about social order and power dynamics within 17th-century England. It certainly gave me something to think about. Editor: Me too! It's amazing how much meaning can be packed into a seemingly simple image of birds.