1834
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Razor Bill is a 1834 ink by Robert Havell Jr., a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows two birds floating on water, both facing left. The bird on the left has a dark head, a white patch on its face, and a yellow beak. The one on the right is mostly dark with a white belly and a sharp, pointed beak. Behind them, a rocky cliff rises up, and the water looks choppy. The artist labeled these birds as "Razor Bill" and noted one is male, one female. The careful details in their feathers and beaks show how the artist studied them closely. Look up engraving to see how artists like this made precise prints from metal plates.
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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