Gadwall duck
1827-1838
John James Audubon captured the Gadwall Duck in this stunning plate from his monumental work, *The Birds of America*. Notice the intricate feather patterns—the male on the right sports a delicate, wavy grey plumage and a rusty head, while the female on the left is wrapped in warm, cinnamon-brown tones. Audubon was obsessed with showing birds in their natural environments, though he often posed stuffed specimens to get the perfect angle. This particular print, Plate 348, was engraved and colored by Robert Havell in 1835, showcasing incredible attention to detail that made the book a masterpiece of natural history illustration.
- Technique
- Hand-colored engraving and aquatint
- Material
- Paper
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