Standing Bird; verso: Flying Bird of Prey c. 18th century

Editor: This is Jean-Baptiste Oudry's "Standing Bird," and I must say, it has a certain charm with its delicate washes. It's giving me a very calm, almost domestic feel. What do you make of it? Curator: Calm, yes, but I wonder if Oudry, known for his royal menagerie paintings, also saw the bird as a symbol of something grander, perhaps even a bit absurd. Its elegant neck juxtaposed with those comically large feet. It makes me chuckle, really. Editor: Absurd? I hadn't considered that. So you think there's a touch of humor here? Curator: Perhaps Oudry himself felt a bit like that goose, caught between elegance and the everyday. Art's funny that way, isn’t it? Editor: It is, like a good joke that keeps revealing new layers. Thanks for that insight! Curator: My pleasure! It's always rewarding to find the unexpected in the seemingly simple.