Japan Peacock; Crane; Toucan; Parrat; Teale; Gambo Goose; Mallard; Pellican of India; B: of Paradice 

Editor: This etching by Francis Barlow, titled "Japan Peacock; Crane; Toucan; Parrat; Teale; Gambo Goose; Mallard; Pellican of India; B: of Paradice," showcases a variety of birds. It feels like a study in ornithology. What's your take on it? Curator: It's fascinating to consider this within the context of the burgeoning scientific illustration of the 17th century. How does Barlow's artistic interpretation affect the "objectivity" we associate with scientific documentation, and how does this inform the colonial gaze? Editor: That makes me think about how these images circulated and the knowledge they conveyed, or perhaps, misrepresented. Curator: Precisely. Barlow's work highlights the intersection of art, science, and the politics of representation during a period of intense global exploration and exploitation. Food for thought.