1838
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Marsh Tern is a 1838 ink by Robert Havell Jr., a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This bird is frozen mid-flight, wings spread wide against a pale blue sky. Its feathers are mostly white, with black on its cap and tail. The beak is sharp and pointed, and the wings show fine lines where feathers meet. The tiny butterfly in the corner looks like an afterthought—almost hidden. This print was made by hand, layering ink and color to mimic nature’s details. Next, check out engraving to see how artists like this carved delicate lines into metal to create prints.
The Havell family of Reading, Berkshire, England, included a number of notable engravers, etchers and painters, as well as writers, publishers, educators, and musicians.
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