Reeves’s Pheasant
1918-1922
Charles Robert Knight captures the sheer absurdity of nature with this stunning depiction of a male Reeves's pheasant, whose tail feathers stretch out like a luxurious, patterned carpet trailing across the grass. Perched next to his much more modestly sized female companion, the male's extravagant plumage is a classic example of sexual selection gone wild in the animal kingdom. Painted between 1918 and 1922, this highly detailed natural history illustration brings the vibrant colors and textures of the countryside to life, making you wonder how such a bird could possibly fly without getting tangled in the trees!
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