Three Birds, Two Hunched Together and One Looking Back to the Left; verso: blank c. 18th century

Editor: This drawing, "Three Birds, Two Hunched Together and One Looking Back to the Left" by Jean-Baptiste Oudry, is so delicate. I'm curious about the almost scientific quality in the way the birds are rendered. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: Oudry's bird studies were often commissioned for aristocratic menageries. These weren't just pets; they were displays of power and global reach. Consider how such images reinforced hierarchies and the relationship between humans and the natural world at the time. Editor: That’s fascinating. So, these weren't simply decorative images? Curator: Not at all. The birds are presented as specimens, almost trophies, reflecting a particular social and scientific gaze. I wonder how that perception has shifted since the 18th century. Editor: I hadn’t considered that. It definitely makes me see the drawing in a different light. Thanks!