Young Yellow-bellied Woodpeckers and Band-tailed Pigeon
1810
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From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1810
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This picture shows three birds in bright, careful colors. The biggest one is a pigeon perched on a branch, its feathers a mix of gray and green. Two smaller birds, woodpeckers, sit nearby—one with a red head, the other with black-and-white stripes. The background is plain, letting the birds stand out. The artist used a mix of etching and hand-coloring to make the feathers look real. Tiny details, like the wood grain on the branch, show how much care went into it. Next, check out etching to see how artists like this one made prints.
