Merganser; verso: Heron c. 18th century

Curator: Here we have Jean-Baptiste Oudry's "Merganser; verso: Heron" from the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It's so delicate, almost like a faded textile sample. You can see the individual pen strokes building up the textures of the bird's feathers. Curator: Oudry was celebrated for his animal paintings, often depicting royal hunts. He was deeply involved in the Gobelins tapestry manufactory. Editor: I wonder about the labor involved in creating such detailed studies. Was this a preliminary sketch for a larger tapestry, dictating material choices and weaving patterns? Curator: Possibly. Oudry's position gave him significant influence over artistic taste and production within the court. Editor: This humble rendering also makes me consider the access and privilege associated with capturing nature in art versus other forms of labor. Curator: It’s a glimpse into a structured world, shaping perceptions of the natural world. Editor: Yes, and a reminder of the layers of material and social processes embedded in even the simplest image.