American coot
1827-1838
John James Audubon captures the American Coot in a moment of awkward elegance, strutting along a muddy bank with those bizarre, lobed green feet that look almost prehistoric. This plate comes from his legendary 'The Birds of America,' a massive project where he aimed to document every bird species in North America at life-size. Unlike the stiff, profile views of earlier naturalists, Audubon posed his subjects—often freshly killed and wired into position—in dynamic, naturalistic settings. The intricate detailing of the slate-black feathers and the bright white beak against the marsh grasses shows why this 1835 engraving remains a masterpiece of scientific illustration.
- Technique
- Hand-colored engraving
- Material
- Paper
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