The Corn Snake (Coluber fulvius?) Possibly 1731 - 1743

Editor: Here we have Mark Catesby's "The Corn Snake (Coluber fulvius?)", probably created between 1731 and 1743. It appears to be a print, perhaps using watercolor and colored pencil. The composition, with the snake entwined around the plant, feels very deliberate. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Indeed. Observe how the artist employs the formal elements to construct a visual narrative. The serpentine form of the snake is echoed in the curves of the plant's stem, creating a rhythmic interplay. Notice the careful distribution of color. The vermillion scales of the snake create focal points, drawing the eye along its sinuous path. Editor: So the composition itself tells a story, regardless of what we know about snakes or botany? Curator: Precisely. Consider the artist’s technical skill in rendering texture and form. The subtle gradations of watercolor give the snake a lifelike presence, while the detailed rendering of the plant suggests a scientific approach to observation. It transcends mere illustration; it's a constructed reality that invites us to contemplate relationships between forms and colours. What impact does the somewhat flattened perspective have on your interpretation? Editor: I see. The lack of depth flattens the image, making the snake and plant almost decorative. So instead of receding into the distance, the components assert themselves as surface patterns? Curator: Precisely. The relationship between foreground and background is flattened. It brings our attention back to the artifice, the created image rather than an attempt to capture a specific "realistic" moment. Editor: This perspective highlights how the artwork isn't necessarily trying to depict reality accurately. Thank you, that’s helpful. Curator: My pleasure. Through considering the image's formal properties, a richer understanding emerges.