Audubon Print, No. 46 – “American Green winged Teal,” 1834
This life-like engraving is part of the Birds of America folio book by John James Audubon. It includes 435 color plates (prints) documenting nearly 1,000 American birds in careful and accurate detail. It is an important work of natural history and scientific observation created by this self-taught artist and naturalist who we honor on April 26th, National Audubon Day, for his achievements.
What makes John James Audubon so remarkable?
Born in Santo Domingo (now Haiti) in 1785, but raised in France by his father and stepmother, Audubon was interested in nature from an early age. In 1803, he traveled to America, where he began studying and drawing birds. Unlike other wildlife artists, he provided very detailed illustrations of the birds in their respective natural habitats. The common way to portray wildlife at the time was on a blank background. Instead, Audubon painted the birds in nature conducting activities he witnessed (or imagined). He studied birds during the spring, so enjoyed excellent conditions to observe them and their patterns of behavior. Audubon also portrayed his subjects at life size to better show the scale and detail of the birds.
Between 1827 and 1838, Audubon published his greatest work, The Birds of America. Even today, it is still widely considered one of the most noteworthy examples of wildlife illustration and among the best ornithological works to have been completed. Artists are still measured against this book’s standards, and his work is highly prized. In 2010, a first edition of The Birds of America sold in London for $11 million!
Audubon is also important because of the enduring conservation legacy attached to his name. In 1905, a student of Audubon’s wife established the first Audubon Society in his memory to protect birds and their habitats. The National Audubon Society is one of the oldest organizations to promote conservation of the natural world, and today there are many branches of the society all over the US.
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