Rotbrusttaucher
1827-1838
John James Audubon was obsessed with capturing birds in mid-action, often going to gruesome lengths—killing and wiring fresh specimens into dramatic poses—to make them look alive. In this plate from his massive 'Birds of America' project, a male Red-breasted Merganser with a wild, spiky green crest paddles through the water while a female soars overhead. To the left, Audubon included native pitcher plants, grounding the scene in a specific wetland environment. This print comes from the famous 'Double Elephant Folio' edition, named because the paper was so huge it was the largest size available at the time.
- Technique
- Hand-colored engraving
- Material
- Paper
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