The Crow and the Falcon 1719

Curator: This etching is titled "The Crow and the Falcon" by Claude Gillot, a French artist born in 1673. It's a small plate, about 8 by 10 centimeters, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels… urgent. The stark contrast and the way the falcon dives creates a sense of impending action. Curator: Gillot was known for his theatrical designs, and you see that playfulness even here. Consider the fable itself – its cultural role as a tool for social commentary through easily understood animal symbols. Editor: Absolutely. The crow is vulnerable, exposed. The falcon, a symbol of power, embodies threat. This image taps into primal anxieties about predation and hierarchy, a story about power dynamics. Curator: Which resonated deeply in the hierarchical society of 18th-century France, informing social structures and artistic patronage. Editor: It is a vivid reminder that even in the world of fables, anxieties about power and vulnerability are pervasive. Curator: Indeed. It's a small work, but a potent one, offering a glimpse into the symbolic language of its time.