Bewick’s Swan 

Archibald Thorburn made this watercolour painting of Bewick’s Swan around the turn of the century. Watercolour is a fascinating medium, because it relies so much on the inherent qualities of water and pigment. Thorburn coaxes the material into rendering the swans’ downy feathers, using delicate washes to capture their subtle contours. Notice the textural contrast between the smoothness of the birds and the broken quality of the shoreline; different brushwork achieves each effect. The artist’s technique has a direct link to wider social trends. The relative ease of watercolour, as compared to oil painting, made it a popular choice for amateur artists, many of them women. Thorburn’s professional skill elevated watercolour to a high art, but he was also part of a much broader culture of artistic production. Ultimately, understanding the materials and techniques of "Bewick’s Swan" helps us appreciate the artist’s mastery, while also considering the painting's place in a larger ecosystem of art and craft.