Plate 17. Carolina Turtle Dove 

John James Audubon made this print of Carolina Turtle Doves using a combination of etching, engraving, and aquatint, all painstaking processes that demand great skill. Consider the making: Audubon didn't just paint these images; he was also a printer, deeply involved in the technical aspects of reproduction. The velvety aquatint gives depth to the foliage, while delicate etching captures the birds’ plumage with scientific precision. The printing process itself, with its acid baths and heavy presses, mirrors the labor-intensive act of observing and documenting nature, imbuing the image with the gravitas of scientific endeavor. Audubon sought to capture an entire aviary in print, which speaks volumes about the ambition of both science and art in an era of exploration. This print is not just an image; it's a document, made through a complex, collaborative process, of a world increasingly subject to human scrutiny and, ultimately, exploitation. By appreciating the labor and the materials involved, we can better grasp the cultural weight of Audubon's project.