Plate III, Four Ostriches in the Center of the Plate, from Ballet of Ostriches, Ballet by Jean Baptiste Balbi for "La Finta Pazza" c. 17th century

Editor: This is Valerio Spada's "Plate III, Four Ostriches in the Center of the Plate, from Ballet of Ostriches, Ballet by Jean Baptiste Balbi for "La Finta Pazza"", it appears to be an ink drawing. It's so simple, almost whimsical. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Beyond the surface, I see commentary on power dynamics and exoticism prevalent in 17th-century European courts. Ostriches were often seen as symbols of the exotic, and their depiction in a ballet points to the objectification of the other. How might we interpret this performance through a postcolonial lens? Editor: So it's not just a drawing of some birds? Curator: Exactly. It is a visual record, yes, but also a product of its time, reflecting societal attitudes towards race, class, and spectacle. This reminds us that art often normalizes, or even glorifies, injustice. Editor: I hadn't considered that! It gives the drawing a whole new layer of meaning. Curator: Indeed, let's remember to look critically at the art of the past.