Buff-breasted Sandpiper

About this work

This engraving shows a buff-breasted sandpiper standing on one leg in shallow water. Its feathers are soft browns and whites with a splash of black on the wings. The bird is small, just a few inches tall, but the artist made it look real. Robert Havell Jr. made the engraving by hand. He used cross-hatching—tiny lines—to create shadows and texture. The paper is old and thick, which makes the colors stay bright. See this at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.