Quizzical Bird; verso: blank c. 18th century

Editor: So, here we have Jean-Baptiste Oudry’s "Quizzical Bird." It’s a drawing, pretty simple, but the bird's expression is just so funny. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, I’m immediately drawn to the bird's gaze. Oudry painted during a time of rigid social hierarchies. Does this bird, through its quizzical stare, perhaps symbolize the questioning of authority, a subtle rebellion against the established order? Editor: That's a really interesting way to think about it! I was just focused on its cute face. Curator: Consider also the context of scientific illustration at the time. Is Oudry simply documenting, or is he imbuing the creature with agency, challenging the notion of humans as the sole possessors of intellect? Editor: I guess it makes you wonder about the relationship between humans and the natural world. Curator: Exactly! It's a tiny drawing, but it can lead to huge questions about power, knowledge, and our place in the world. Editor: Thanks, I never thought of it that way before.