Hanging Mallard
1834
Talk about a tough day for a duck! Ferdinand von Wright painted this hanging mallard in 1834, capturing the grim reality of the hunt with stunning precision. The bird dangles by its feet from a nail, its iridescent green head and bright blue wing feathers popping against the dull, speckled background. A single drop of blood from the beak adds a touch of macabre realism to the scene. Von Wright was part of a famous trio of artist brothers who were obsessed with birds, and here he turns a dead game bird into a surprisingly elegant composition.
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