Two Parrots 1924

Editor: Here we see George Henry’s "Two Parrots" housed at the Harvard Art Museums. I am fascinated by the watercolor technique. It’s so translucent! What can you tell us about it? Curator: Notice how the process of watercolor application itself becomes the subject. The washes aren’t just depicting feathers; they’re foregrounding the act of painting. Think about what it meant to portray exotic creatures within a culture increasingly defined by mass production and consumerism. Editor: So, the artist is not just representing parrots, but also commenting on the way we see and consume nature? Curator: Precisely. Henry uses the materiality of watercolor to question the boundaries between nature, representation, and consumption. The labor is made visible. Editor: That gives me a new perspective on the painting! Curator: Indeed, seeing the process as part of the subject can change how we understand the artwork's message.