The Purple Jack Daw (Gracula Quiscula)
1737
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1737
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This bird looks like a crow but with a long, curved beak and glossy black feathers. It’s perched on a rough, textured rock with a few small plants poking out. The background is plain, letting the bird stand out clearly. The title says it’s a *purple* jackdaw, but the colors here are mostly dark and muted. The artist used careful lines to show every feather and detail of the beak. Look up etching next to see how artists like this made precise prints.
