Plate 138 Connecticut Warbler 

Curator: This is Plate 138, “Connecticut Warbler,” a drawing, tempera, watercolor, and pencil piece by John James Audubon. It appears to be a print on paper as well, following his practice. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: The piece evokes a strong sense of serenity. There’s a stillness about it, despite the suggestion of naturalism. It makes me contemplate nature and fragility in a Romantic vein. Curator: It's fascinating to consider Audubon’s process here. These weren’t just sketches done in a studio; they were often made en plein air. That speaks to a whole process of observing and engaging directly with the natural world. There is labor in bringing the raw materials of nature to the tools. Editor: Indeed. He captured more than just the surface. Notice the warblers are surrounded by Great blue gentian. This evokes certain sentiments depending on your knowledge base, such as trustworthiness and endurance in folklore. The flowers mirror each other. They even evoke nobility with the color of their blooms, wouldn't you agree? Curator: And his selection of these elements elevates the work, transforming what could simply be ornithological illustration into a considered composition of materiality. Take his choice of watercolor as a medium. It perfectly mimics the softness of feathers and the delicacy of petals. A stark choice compared to oil, right? Editor: Certainly. Consider the historical context as well. In Audubon's time, naturalism and history painting was blended quite skillfully by various academic artists. The symbolism here is carefully chosen to enhance the scene beyond the representation of two warblers; a very traditional academic trait. It pulls the viewer into something meaningful beyond the purely representational. Curator: Looking at it with our contemporary perspective, it also opens a door to thinking about art and craft and what we define these two as today. Is this high art or merely skilled illustration for scientific purposes? The production value raises questions. Editor: Ultimately, the symbolic depth and delicate detail make it a visually compelling artifact, an enduring representation of a fragile natural world, and evokes deep symbolic responses. Curator: Yes, and seeing it now, we recognize the amount of thought that went into producing such striking pieces, even within that naturalist movement, a beautiful display.