Woodcock 1731 - 1743

Mark Catesby made this watercolor of a woodcock sometime in the first half of the 18th century. As an English naturalist, Catesby dedicated his life to the study of flora and fauna in the New World, and his images offered Europeans a glimpse into the landscapes of colonial America. However, Catesby’s approach to natural history was shaped by the scientific and social structures of his time. He not only documented new species but also composed images that were intended to reflect a kind of natural harmony, combining diverse elements into a single tableau. How do we interpret these choices? As historians, we can research the economic and political conditions of the period, the networks of scientific exchange, and the aesthetics that shaped artistic production. Only then can we understand the public role of art and the politics of imagery in the 1700s.