Eine blaue Taube mit grünen und schwarzen Flügeln 

Curator: Ah, what a moody pigeon! Its eye looks almost accusing, doesn't it? I get a sort of steampunk vibe, with those burnished colours... Editor: Indeed! This work, whose title translates to "A Blue Dove with Green and Black Wings", is an interesting piece from the Städel Museum’s collection. While undated, it's attributed to Herman Henstenburgh, a Dutch artist working in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, and the materials include watercolor, ink, and coloured pencil on paper. Curator: So, less steampunk, more Dutch master meets psychedelic birdwatching! There's such a curious blend of meticulous detail and sheer whimsy in it. That pop of emerald green on the wing – like a hidden jewel. And the head – what IS that colour? Editor: It’s fascinating how Henstenburgh utilizes a relatively muted palette to create a sense of drama. It reflects, I think, a broader artistic interest in ornithology during that era but through a decidedly baroque lens. These bird studies were often incorporated into larger, more allegorical compositions, serving as both decorative elements and symbols. Curator: Symbols of what, do you reckon? Peace? That seems too obvious, even though it's a pigeon. I keep coming back to the intensity of that stare… more like a feathered harbinger of doom! Perhaps, a slightly disgruntled harbinger of doom… with amazing plumage. Editor: Well, pigeons, in particular, held various symbolic associations, ranging from divine messengers to symbols of love and fertility. However, it’s likely that Henstenburgh's interest was primarily scientific, a meticulous observation and documentation of the natural world. Although that certainly doesn’t exclude other interpretations! Curator: Hmm, scientific AND symbolic. Maybe the pigeon is a metaphor for us viewers, judged by some higher artistic power for our tastes, habits, or even for pausing to appreciate it! A divine, beady-eyed little art critic! Editor: (chuckles) A compelling interpretation! I appreciate how this drawing blends scientific observation with an intriguing artistic sensibility, regardless of its intended message, creating something undeniably unique and thought-provoking. Curator: Absolutely, it invites the viewer into its quirky, slightly unsettling, yet ultimately captivating world. A good pigeon portrait is worth a thousand perfectly placed still-life peaches, I always say!