American crow
1827-1838
Audubon was famous for shooting birds and wiring them into lifelike poses to capture their true character, a method that was as gruesome as it was effective. In this plate, a glossy black crow clings to a branch laden with round, brownish fruits, its feathers shimmering with deep blue hues. Notice the tiny nest with eggs tucked at the very bottom—Audubon loved to show the full story of the bird's life, not just a portrait. This comes from his legendary 'The Birds of America,' a project so massive the prints had to be shipped in sections from London to subscribers.
- Technique
- Hand-colored engraving
- Material
- Paper