Cockatoo 1721

Editor: This watercolor and ink on paper, titled "Cockatoo," was created around 1721 by Chen Shu. It's striking how the artist captures the bird's texture. What stands out to you in this piece? Curator: The first thing I notice is the depiction of labor here. Consider the meticulous, time-consuming process of creating such a delicate image with watercolor and ink. What does the act of representing the bird in this way, using such refined and expensive materials, tell us about consumption and societal values at the time? Editor: I see what you mean! It does seem like the materials themselves are elevating the subject matter, right? Curator: Precisely. Also consider that Chen Shu was known as a literati painter, blurring the lines between 'high art' and what might be seen as decorative or craft work. What implications might that have for the perception and value of her work, and indeed, women artists in general, in that context? How does it influence what is collected? Editor: That's a great point. It makes me think about how societal biases influence our ideas about craft and what is displayed in the Met. I didn't consider her position as a woman when I first viewed it. Curator: Exactly! Consider also the labor involved in creating the paper, mixing the inks... Even sourcing the pigments would involve trade and social connections. Editor: That gives a whole new perspective to it. Seeing all these interconnected processes, not just a pretty picture of a bird, makes you aware of society at that moment. Curator: Precisely. It highlights how art isn’t made in a vacuum; it's a product of its materials and societal forces. I appreciate how it prompts reflection on that relationship between making and value.