[title not known] 

Curator: This intriguing print, currently without a known title, is by Francis Barlow, who was born in 1626. It resides here at the Tate. Editor: My immediate reaction is that this feels like a bestiary of strange creatures, all rendered in meticulous detail. Curator: Indeed, the etching technique allows for a real exploration of texture, doesn't it? You can almost feel the different qualities of the feathers. Editor: The central eagle-like figure, with its wings spread wide, dominates the scene. But what about the other, more unusual birds? Are they symbols of something specific? Curator: Barlow was deeply involved in the printmaking process. It's interesting to consider the labor and resources needed to create this image and circulate it. Editor: Perhaps these creatures represent different aspects of the human psyche or nature, echoing the symbolic language of alchemy or early scientific illustration. Curator: That’s a fascinating angle to consider. Editor: It all makes you wonder about how these prints were distributed and received. Curator: Exactly. I find the way the different textures were etched fascinating. Editor: I’m particularly drawn to how the unknown artist captured a kind of fantastical reality within these bird forms.