Plate 137 Yellow-breasted Chat 

Here we see John James Audubon’s “Plate 137 Yellow-breasted Chat,” part of *Birds of America*, his ambitious project from the first half of the 19th century to document all known birds of the United States. Audubon was a complicated figure, driven by a desire to classify and control the natural world, while also attempting to depict it authentically. His life was deeply entangled with the social and economic structures of his time, including slavery. As a man of mixed race passing as white, his identity was always complex. These graceful Yellow-breasted Chats become a means to consider themes of belonging, adaptation, and survival. Audubon’s detailed rendering invites us to reflect on the intricate relationships between species and their environment, as well as the complex legacy of natural history illustration. As Audubon said, "I feel as if my task is accomplished.” Yet, his work remains a reminder of the ongoing dialogues between humans and the natural world.