Psittacus minor viridis cauda longiore Occidentalis
1755
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1755
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This etching shows a green parrot with a long tail perched on a branch. Its feathers look soft, and the colors pop because they were added by hand later. You can see the artist’s careful lines around each feather. Hand-colored prints were rare back then. Most artists didn’t bother—it took too much time. This one shows how printing met illustration, like mixing two crafts into one. If you like this style, try etching too. Look up Leitner, Johann Sebastian.
