Ducks 

Curator: This delightful drawing, simply titled "Ducks," is by Francis Barlow. Editor: It's mostly tonal. The composition is very dynamic, and the lines lend a sense of constant motion. Curator: Barlow, born in 1626, was celebrated for his animal drawings. His work provided visual commentary on the social hierarchy of his time. Editor: The varying line weights create wonderful depth. Note the textures suggested merely by the artist's skillful hatching and cross-hatching. Curator: Ducks, in many contexts, became symbols of societal structures, reflecting ideas about class and the natural order during that era. Editor: Quite. The eye is led beautifully from the foreground ducks to the lone bird in flight, balancing the earthy tones with the bright, open sky. Curator: Barlow uses these creatures to explore themes of freedom, constraint, and the relationship between the individual and the collective. Editor: I appreciate the delicate balance Barlow strikes between observation and formal arrangement. The artwork leaves you contemplating the relationship between nature and artistic representation.