Pheasant; Heathcock 

Editor: This is Francis Barlow’s "Pheasant; Heathcock," an undated etching and engraving print. The birds seem both familiar and exotic. What’s your interpretation of the scene? Curator: To me, this image sings of the English countryside, perhaps a lord's estate, meticulously observed and captured. It’s like a snapshot, isn't it, of a world both wild and tamed? I wonder, does it evoke a sense of freedom or confinement for you? Editor: I think it evokes a sense of freedom, as if I could explore it, so perhaps it's a successful image. Thanks! Curator: Indeed! Barlow invites us into his world, a world of keen observation. An artist ahead of his time.