Peacocks 

Curator: Here we have Francis Barlow's "Peacocks," held at the Tate. It's a delicate work, rendered on a support measuring 136 by 196 millimeters. Editor: It's quite charming, really. The drawing has a certain old-world feel, like a glimpse into a very mannered garden. Curator: Barlow was quite interested in the burgeoning field of natural history. These peacocks, for instance, are depicted with careful attention to their form and texture. It speaks to 17th century collecting culture. Editor: I find myself drawn to the peacock with its tail fully fanned. It's so bold, almost theatrical. You can see the artist really relished rendering those intricate details. Curator: Indeed. And consider the presence of the chicks. They seem to ground the opulence of the peacocks in the everyday realities of reproduction and labor. Editor: What a feast for the eyes and mind! It's always fascinating to see how an artist blends aesthetics with their observations of the world. Curator: It gives us such a glimpse into how knowledge was produced and classified.