Purple finch
1827-1838
John James Audubon was obsessed with capturing birds in action, and here he gives us a dynamic trio of Purple Finches—though 'raspberry-red' might be a better name for the males! Notice how the top bird is clinging almost upside down to the branch; Audubon hated stiff, museum-style poses and wanted his subjects to look like they were mid-movement in the wild. This plate comes from his massive, life-sized masterpiece 'The Birds of America', a project so huge it nearly bankrupted him but ultimately made him the most famous bird illustrator in history.
- Technique
- Hand-colored engraving
- Material
- Paper