Plate 161 1849 - 1887

Curator: My first thought seeing this is, like, pure joyful whimsy. Look at those little birds! Editor: Indeed! We're looking at Plate 161 by John Gould, dating from 1849 to 1887. It's a print featuring watercolor and gouache, housed right here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Curator: It feels like a fantasy illustration, but I suppose it's ornithological? The detailing is so precise! Though the tails look a little crazy, those paddle-shapes… like feathered lollipops. Editor: Exactly, and while seemingly innocent, such depictions were part and parcel of colonial-era scientific documentation. Gould's work played a significant role in shaping European understandings – and, let's face it, exploitation – of the natural world. These birds, the Loddigesia mirabilis, are endemic to a tiny region of Peru and highly endangered. Curator: So, scientific, yes, but filtered through a very particular lens. Like, it's about imposing order and maybe control. Which makes you wonder about the gaze behind it, you know? Was Gould appreciating the bird or just cataloging it? I feel a little bad enjoying its cuteness now. Editor: That's precisely the tension we need to acknowledge. Botanical and zoological illustrations from this period often romanticized nature while simultaneously contributing to the systems that threatened it. The very act of naming and classifying these creatures places them within a hierarchy that often justifies intervention. Curator: So, even the delicate brushstrokes have a kind of… weight to them. This isn't just about pretty birds. It's about the way we *see* pretty birds. The agenda of observation. Which complicates the simple, joyful feeling it gave me at first. Editor: Absolutely. Art like this serves as a potent reminder of the complex interplay between art, science, and power, urging us to critically examine the historical context that shaped its creation and reception. Curator: Makes me realize my joy needs to be a more informed kind of joy. A responsible delight in the image. Editor: Precisely. Maybe we can all become better, more mindful observers.