Two Squawking Ducks in the Water; verso: blank c. 18th century

Editor: Oudry’s “Two Squawking Ducks in the Water” really leaps off the page. The ducks feel so alive with their open beaks and outstretched wings. What draws your eye in this piece? Curator: It's fascinating how Oudry captures that sense of immediacy. The squawking, a form of avian communication, echoes through time. Think of ducks in mythology—often symbols of transition, between water and air, life and death. What emotions do their postures evoke in you? Editor: Definitely a sense of urgency, maybe even anxiety. Curator: Precisely. Oudry masterfully uses familiar symbols to tap into deeper, primal emotions, reminding us that even a simple image of ducks can carry profound cultural and psychological weight. Editor: I never thought about ducks that way, as symbols. It’s amazing how much is packed into this sketch.