Hunched Bird with Ruffled Feathers; verso: blank c. 18th century

Curator: Here we have “Hunched Bird with Ruffled Feathers; verso: blank" by Jean-Baptiste Oudry, an 18th-century French artist. This study, housed here at Harvard, captures a bird in a somewhat unusual pose. Editor: It's quite charming, actually! The colours are so delicate, and the bird looks rather… grumpy. Almost like it’s just had a really bad hair day. Curator: Oudry was renowned for his animal paintings, often commissioned by the French aristocracy. This wasn’t just decorative; it reflected the era's fascination with natural history and scientific observation. Editor: You know, there’s a vulnerability to it that I find really appealing. It's not just a pretty bird; it’s got character, maybe even a bit of my own moodiness. Curator: Right, and the ruffled feathers probably symbolize that very well! The piece gives off a sense of immediacy, like a quick sketch, but there's also incredible detail in the plumage. Editor: Well, I’m glad to know even 18th-century birds had days when their feathers felt like a disaster. It makes me feel better about my bad hair moments, honestly! Curator: Exactly, in a way it serves as a looking glass across time.