Dead Wildfowl
1750
From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst
Dominant colour
Dead Wildfowl is a 1750 by Unknown, held at Statens Museum for Kunst.
This black-and-white image shows three dead birds arranged in a dark, shadowy space. One bird lies on its back with wings spread, another is curled up, and the third is half-hidden under a cloth. The lighting is uneven, casting sharp contrasts between light and dark. The way the artist used light and shadow to create depth is striking. The dark background makes the birds stand out, almost like they’re floating. Look up chiaroscuro to learn more about this lighting technique.
