Golden Eagle 1789

Curator: Here we have William Lewin’s "Golden Eagle," a watercolor and possibly oil painting, created in 1789. It’s part of the collection at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Editor: Wow, that eagle is INTENSE. The pose is captivating, its dark, piercing eyes seem like it's staring right into my soul! There’s a stillness, but also a latent energy, you know? I can almost hear the wind whistling around its feathers. Curator: Precisely. And while it’s easy to be awestruck by the raw power captured here, it’s also important to understand the scientific context. Late 18th-century paintings of wildlife weren't just aesthetically pleasing; they played a crucial role in documenting the natural world and contributing to burgeoning scientific understanding, so access for a broad audience really mattered. Lewin, for instance, had a long-standing interest in ornithology. Editor: That makes sense. It’s like a field guide entry, but elevated to an art form. Though, even knowing it was ‘scientific,’ it still feels quite…romantic. A very personal take on the bird, you know? The eagle isn’t just rendered with precision, but also with such loving, meticulous detail, that's really impressive. I can imagine Lewin spending hours just observing the magnificent creature. Curator: Well, consider the power dynamics at play too. In Europe during the Enlightenment, the idea of dominating the natural world was extremely popular. The rise of ornithology went hand in hand with attempts to classify and control it. Depictions such as this one could even be used to legitimize those political power structures. Editor: I never considered that. It definitely shifts how I see the bird's imposing presence. Instead of nature untamed, it feels...possessed. But Lewin manages to go further, too, to highlight the wild majesty of the Golden Eagle. It gives the piece tension, which makes it quite powerful. Curator: Agreed. What Lewin created invites both aesthetic admiration, and prompts a more nuanced consideration of the complicated relations between humankind and nature. Editor: Definitely. I’ll not look at watercolors and golden eagles the same way again.