Duck c. 20th century

Curator: Felix Klipstein's "Duck," created sometime around 1921, presents us with a surprisingly detailed rendering of the bird. Editor: It’s striking how still it is. The crosshatching lends a sense of quiet, almost as if the duck is holding its breath, which is intriguing. Curator: Yes, that stillness is quite potent. Ducks, traditionally symbols of adaptability and resourcefulness, here seem almost...vulnerable. There is also something symbolic about the direction it is looking. Editor: I see what you mean. The duck seems to be averting its gaze, turning away. Is it turning away from the present? I am drawn to the image's melancholic quality. Curator: Indeed. The duck may symbolize the loss of wild spaces and the increasing encroachment of urbanization on its natural habitat. Editor: This artwork definitely evokes a sense of introspection. It prompts a deeper consideration of our relationship with the natural world.