Canard à tête rouge
1827-1838
John James Audubon was on a mission to paint every bird in America life-size, and this plate from his legendary 'The Birds of America' series is a perfect example of his dramatic flair. Notice the male duck standing alert with his rusty-red head and bright blue feet, contrasting with the resting, mottled brown female—he wanted his subjects to look alive, not like stiff museum specimens! These massive prints were hand-colored engravings created by Robert Havell in the 1830s, making them incredibly expensive luxury items that cost over $1,000 at the time (that's like $30,000 today!).
- Technique
- Hand-colored engraving
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