Bird, after an Egyptian Wall Painting at Thebes c. 1876 - 1878

Editor: So, this is "Bird, after an Egyptian Wall Painting at Thebes," by Charles Herbert. I'm struck by how delicate it feels, almost like a watercolor dream. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It's a curious echo, isn't it? Herbert, in the 19th century, gazing back at ancient Thebes. He's not just copying; he's filtering it through his own artistic lens, softening the ancient lines. I wonder what captivated him most? The sacredness? The sheer artistry? Editor: Maybe both? It's like he's trying to capture a whisper from a lost world. Curator: Precisely. It’s a reminder that art is a conversation across time, each voice adding its own inflection. What do you take away from it? Editor: That even copies can be deeply personal and reveal something new about the original and the copier. Curator: Indeed. Art is a journey, not a destination.