1838
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Western Duck is a 1838 ink by Robert Havell Jr., a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows two ducks standing near water and reeds. The duck in front has bright orange sides, black and white wings, and a greenish head. The other duck is perched behind it, mostly white with a green eye patch. The background is simple—just grass, water, and a tree trunk. The artist used careful lines to show the feathers’ texture, almost like stitching. This was a common way to add detail in prints back then. Look up engraving to see how artists like this made 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.
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