Spaniels c. 18th century

Editor: So, this is "Spaniels" by Samuel Howitt. It’s hard to pin down a precise date, but he lived from 1756 to 1823. It looks like an etching or engraving, very detailed. I'm struck by the energy, like a snapshot of raw instinct. What do you make of it? Curator: It’s interesting, isn't it? You can almost hear the dogs barking and the frantic flapping of the bird's wings. Howitt really captured that raw, almost chaotic moment of the hunt. I wonder, do you get a sense of the relationship between humans and animals at the time? Editor: A bit, maybe a relationship about utility. I guess the dogs and bird feel more alive than anything else. Curator: Precisely. It makes you think about what we value in nature, or even what we choose to ignore, doesn't it? Editor: Definitely gives you something to chew on, beyond just a hunting scene.