1827
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Prairie Warbler is a 1827 ink by Robert Havell Jr., a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows two small birds perched on tall, skinny reeds. One bird is bright yellow with dark spots, and the other is paler. The reeds have thin green leaves and tiny pine-like clusters at the top. The background is plain white, keeping all the focus on the birds and plants. Notice how the artist used fine lines to show texture in the feathers and leaves. This was a common way to add detail in old prints. If you like this style, look up engraving to see how artists created sharp, precise images before photography.
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 pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
