Red and Black Bird
1734
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1734
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This bird looks real but is drawn with careful lines and bright colors. Its feathers are red, black, and white, with a bold black tail and a red face. It’s perched on a twisted branch with a few pine needles and rocks below, like it’s in a small forest. The artist used a mix of colors to show the bird’s texture—notice how the feathers look almost three-dimensional. This kind of detailed drawing was common in old science books to teach people about animals. Want to see more? Look up etching to learn how artists like this made prints.
