Bird of Paradise c. 17th century

Curator: Here we have Jacques Callot's "Bird of Paradise," a delicate etching no bigger than your hand. Editor: It’s like a whisper of a dream, this tiny print. The bird, so ethereal, seems to be pulling the landscape up toward the sky with it. Curator: Callot's mastery with the etching needle is evident, capturing the bird's flight and the rolling hills with equal precision. Notice how he uses very fine, dense lines to capture the clouds. Editor: The stark simplicity is haunting. I wonder, is it really a paradise or more a longing for one? The ruins on the hill give it a melancholy feel. Curator: Perhaps it’s both. Callot, with his elegant lines, invites us to consider the ephemeral nature of beauty and the passage of time. Editor: Well, whatever it is, this little bird has definitely flown its way into my heart. It makes me want to fly too!