Huishuil
1827-1838
John James Audubon wasn't satisfied with boring, stiff bird portraits; he wanted pure drama! In this striking plate from his massive book *The Birds of America*, a Barn Owl swoops down clutching a freshly caught squirrel, while its partner below screeches up with beak wide open—likely demanding dinner. Audubon famously posed dead birds with wires to achieve these dynamic, lifelike angles. The deep black background makes the snowy white feathers pop, turning a scientific study into a thrilling action scene set high above a winding river landscape.
- Technique
- Hand-colored engraving
- Material
- Paper
- Dimensions
- 39.5 x 26.5 inches (99 x 66 cm)