Bizarre scenes of specimens in old scientific volumes were commonly recorded third or fourth hand from far-off reports or expeditions. By the time these printed forms reached their audiences, they were often wildly different than their original descriptions. Todd Freeman's etchings are rooted in the traditional language of these taxonomies; clean floating presentations that grant their subjects plenty of room for examination. The simple yet sharply authoritative format can validate even the most implausible subjects. His prints draw their material from both the natural and supernatural kingdoms. They reference stories of alleged anomaly and legitimate marvels, and serve as inert swatches from the natural world.
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