Three Birds 19th-20th century

Curator: Theo van Hoytema, a Dutch artist born in the mid-19th century, created this work titled "Three Birds." The piece currently resides at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: They seem so still, so contained. Like little feathered Buddhas meditating on the pond. Curator: Van Hoytema was deeply interested in the intersection of art and social reform. He felt art could inspire a greater appreciation for nature. Editor: There's a kind of muted reverence here. It's like he's captured the precise moment when the world holds its breath, just before the ducks decide to quack or fly away. Curator: Yes, in its time, the image served as a reminder of the natural world outside of the burgeoning industrial landscape. Editor: I imagine Van Hoytema, sitting quietly by the water's edge, just absorbing it all, and then translating that stillness into this really quite magical image. Curator: Indeed, the image still urges us to pause and contemplate nature. Editor: Absolutely, a gentle nudge to embrace the quiet moments.