Christmas Card from Helen and Dick Bishop 1948

Curator: This delicate etching is a Christmas card, made by Richard Evett Bishop in 1948, sent by him and his wife, Helen. It's a simple yet evocative piece depicting three ducks in flight rendered in ink. Editor: There’s something incredibly charming about it, almost naive in its execution. The birds seem caught mid-air, a fleeting moment of freedom frozen in time. Curator: Bishop was known for his sporting art, particularly his depictions of waterfowl. This card reveals a more personal, intimate side of his artistry, doesn't it? Sending your art as a family holiday greeting speaks to its perceived function within a community, particularly one appreciating natural beauty. Editor: It certainly humanizes him. You can imagine him meticulously crafting each card. The lines, although simple, convey such movement and texture. The landscape style also suggests ideas of wilderness and abundance, framing the domestic greeting inside something untamed. What kind of community gets to project those aspirations onto itself at Christmas? Curator: The choice of waterfowl as a symbol might relate to themes of migration, family, and perhaps a longing for the open spaces that were rapidly changing in the post-war landscape. We should also be mindful of the card format; they signal belonging to particular social groups with expectations about sharing in festive joy. The Bishops seem to want to tap into traditions around winter landscapes and their creatures. Editor: Absolutely, but even a seemingly simple card is ripe with commentary about who gets to imagine nature for whom and how that gets commodified around seasonal exchanges. How might those ideas feel for someone outside this cultural frame? Curator: Good questions to ask of what looks to be a lovely image on the surface. It gives us much to think about as we wish everyone happy holidays. Editor: Precisely, a window into personal celebration revealing broader cultural currents.