Red-backed sandpiper
1827-1838
Two shorebirds stand on a rocky coast, surrounded by scattered seashells and a calm sea in the background. Audubon cleverly shows the same species in two different outfits: the bird on the right sports a vibrant reddish-brown summer plumage, while its companion on the left wears a more subdued grey winter coat. This plate comes from his monumental 'Birds of America' project, where he traveled the wild American frontier to document species, often posing freshly killed specimens to create these lifelike scenes. The incredible detail was achieved through hand-colored engravings, making each copy a unique masterpiece of natural history art.
- Technique
- hand-colored engraving
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