Psittacula taranta. Abyssinian parrakeet (Abyssinian Lovebird) by Edward Lear

Psittacula taranta. Abyssinian parrakeet (Abyssinian Lovebird) 

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drawing, watercolor

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portrait

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drawing

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bird

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watercolor

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watercolour illustration

Copyright: Public domain

This lithograph of an Abyssinian Lovebird, or Psittacula taranta, was produced by Edward Lear in the 19th century. Lear was an accomplished artist and ornithological draughtsman, who, like many artists of his time, made images of animals based on specimens – often ones that had been killed. The lithographic process allowed for the relatively quick reproduction of images like this. Lithography involves drawing with a greasy crayon onto a flat stone, then treating the stone so that ink adheres only to the drawn areas. The print is then made by pressing paper onto the inked stone. This was a huge shift from the traditional hand-engraving that was used prior, and enabled scientific information to be widely shared. The level of detail in the bird's plumage and the branch, combined with the flat background and the use of subtle colors, highlights the intersection of scientific accuracy and artistic skill. Consider how the production of images like this relied on global trade, colonialism, and the exploitation of natural resources. It reminds us that even seemingly innocent images have a complicated and multi-layered history.

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