1851
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Aigle au vol is a 1851 ink by Karl Bodmer, a Romanticism work, depicting Eagle, held at National Gallery of Art.
This etching shows a golden eagle in mid-flight, wings spread wide against a blank background. The artist only hints at details with sharp lines. You can almost feel the bird’s power in the rough, scratchy marks. Bird artists of the 1800s used etchings to study anatomy closely. This one wasn’t meant for art alone—it taught hunters and scientists about eagles too. Look for another Bodmer etching to compare.
Johann Carl Bodmer (11 February 1809 – 30 October 1893) was a Swiss-French printmaker, etcher, lithographer, zinc engraver, draughtsman, painter, illustrator, and hunter.
See the richer artist page
