Anatra tuffatrice
1827-1838
John James Audubon was obsessed with showing birds in their natural habitats, often in dynamic poses, rather than stiff profiles like earlier naturalists. For this plate of Scaup Ducks, he captures the male and female resting on a log, showcasing his incredible attention to the intricate patterns of their feathers. This image comes from his massive, life-sized masterpiece 'The Birds of America,' a project so ambitious it nearly bankrupted him and required him to travel to Europe to find printers capable of handling the huge 'Double Elephant Folio' pages. Today, complete copies of this book are among the most expensive printed books in the world.
- Technique
- Hand-colored engraving and aquatint
- Material
- Paper
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