A Turkey 1600 - 1700

This sheet, now in the Metropolitan Museum, is a drawing of a turkey by an anonymous artist. The detailed rendering in pen and ink, with delicate washes of color, captures the texture and form of the bird. The turkey stands in profile, its body composed of layered feathers that create a sense of depth and volume, the head a vibrant mix of red and blue. The anonymous artist carefully observed the natural world, employing a scientific approach in the tradition of natural history illustration. Each feather is meticulously delineated, reflecting a formal interest in taxonomy. The slight shadow beneath the turkey suggests an engagement with perspective, anchoring it in space, but without contextual clues. The turkey, a creature native to the Americas, takes on symbolic weight. Seen as a symbol of abundance, its presentation invites us to reflect on issues of cultural exchange and colonial encounters. The absence of a signature further emphasizes the artwork's focus on objective representation over personal expression. This simple depiction, through its formal qualities, opens up discussions about how we perceive and categorize the natural world.