Black Grouse, Cock And Hen
1869
Ferdinand von Wright captures a quiet, frosty moment in the wild with this 1869 masterpiece. The large, glossy black grouse is busy preening its iridescent feathers, seemingly ignoring the world, while the smaller, mottled brown hen rests peacefully below on the snow-dusted rock. The misty, pine-filled background sets a chilly, atmospheric tone typical of Scandinavian realism. As an avid hunter and naturalist, von Wright knew his subjects intimately, earning him and his brothers the nickname 'the Audubons of the North' for their scientifically precise yet beautifully artistic bird portraits.
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