Parrot (Ara)
1691
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1691
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This engraving shows a parrot perched on a branch. Its bright red and blue feathers pop against the plain background. The bird’s eyes look sharp and alert. The artist inked the engraving by hand, not with a roller. He used tiny lines called cross-hatching to shade the parrot’s body. This technique gives the bird a soft, velvety texture. Look up Teyler, Johann.
