Rookmeeuw
1827-1838
John James Audubon captured this Sooty Tern in a dramatic mid-flight swoop, its long, pointed wings spread wide against a cloudy sky. This print comes from his massive, ambitious project 'The Birds of America,' where he aimed to document every bird species in North America at life size. Here's a slightly macabre fun fact: Audubon often shot birds, posed them with wires to mimic natural movement, and then drew them—explaining why this bird looks so incredibly active and alive! The text at the bottom reveals it was engraved and colored by Robert Havell, Audubon's brilliant printer who helped turn these drawings into the famous 'Double Elephant Folio'.
- Technique
- Hand-colored engraving
- Material
- Paper
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