Gelbkopfente
1827-1838
John James Audubon brings the Bufflehead duck to life with characteristic drama in this plate from his monumental 'The Birds of America'. Notice the male duck standing tall with his beak wide open, as if he's shouting at the sky, while the female rests quietly nearby on a grassy bank. Audubon was famous for depicting birds in their natural habitats rather than as stiff scientific specimens, often using wire to pose freshly killed birds into dynamic stances. This specific print, engraved by Robert Havell in 1831, showcases the iridescent green and purple sheen on the male's head that makes this species so striking.
- Technique
- Hand-colored engraving
- Material
- Paper
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