1836
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Long-legged Avocet is a 1836 ink by Robert Havell Jr., a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This bird stands tall on one long pink leg, its black-and-white body angled toward the ground. Its beak is curved down like a scythe, and it balances on a rocky shore near the ocean. The sky behind it is soft and cloudy, with a few scattered rocks and shells below. The bird’s name is written at the bottom: *Long-legged Avocet*. Its bright colors pop against the muted background, making it look almost alive. Want to see how this was made? Look up engraving.
The Havell family of Reading, Berkshire, England, included a number of notable engravers, etchers and painters, as well as writers, publishers, educators, and musicians.
See the richer artist page
