American pied-bill dobchick
1827-1838
John James Audubon was obsessed with showing birds in their natural habitat, doing bird things, rather than just looking like stiff museum specimens. In this plate from his massive 'Birds of America' project, he captures two Pied-billed Grebes (he used the old folk name 'Dobchick') in a splashy, dramatic moment. One bird has its wings flared and beak open, looking like it's either arguing with its neighbor or showing off in the water. Audubon traveled the American wilderness to sketch these scenes, and this print brings that wild energy to life with incredibly detailed reeds and water ripples, turning scientific illustration into action-packed art.
- Technique
- hand-colored engraving and aquatint
- Material
- paper
- Dimensions
- approx. 39 x 26 inches (99 x 66 cm)
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