Red-shouldered Hawk
1829
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1829
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Red-shouldered Hawk is a 1829 ink by Robert Havell Jr., a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows two red-shouldered hawks perched on a bare branch with green leaves. One faces left, wings slightly spread, while the other faces right, looking alert. Their feathers are detailed in warm browns and blacks, with a soft white belly. The background is mostly blank, letting the birds stand out. The artist used fine lines to show texture in the feathers and bark. The text at the bottom names the bird and notes it’s a male and female pair. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this made prints before photography.
