A Concert of Birds
1778
ink
paper
From the collection of Rijksmuseum
About the artist
Artist
Richard Earlom
Richard Earlom (1743–1822) was a British artist, born in London.
See the richer artist page1778
ink
paper
From the collection of Rijksmuseum
A Concert of Birds is a 1778 ink by Richard Earlom, a Romanticism work, depicting Animalia, held at Rijksmuseum.
This print shows a group of birds perched on branches in a dark room, almost like a stage set. The birds look alive thanks to rich shadows and soft light, a trick called chiaroscuro. Their bright feathers pop against the black background, making the scene feel warm and cozy. Richard Earlom made this in 1778 using mezzotint, a tricky print method that lets artists control darks and lights. He turned a quiet sketch of birds into a glowing print. It looks almost like a painting because of how the light falls. Mezzotint uses rough metal plates to hold ink, then burnishes the surface smooth where light should appear.
Richard Earlom (1743–1822) was a British artist, born in London.
See the richer artist page
