Artwork
Black and White Water-Fowl with Blue Throat
Black and White Water-Fowl with Blue Throat is an ink print by the Baroque artist George Edwards. It dates from 1734 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
George Edwards’ hand‑colored etching titled Black and White Water‑Fowl with Blue Throat dates from 1734. Executed on laid paper, the work presents a solitary bird perched on a moss‑covered rock beside a tranquil stream, its beak clasping a fish.
Subject & Meaning
The bird is rendered in a palette of black, white and gray feathers, contrasted by a vivid blue throat that draws the eye. The calm water and modest vegetation at its feet suggest a quiet, natural setting, emphasizing the creature’s poised stillness while it feeds.
Technique & Style
Edwards employed the etching process, incising fine lines into a metal plate before transferring the image onto paper. The delicate line work captures the texture of the plumage, and selective hand‑coloring adds the striking blue hue to the throat, highlighting the artist’s attention to detail.
History & Provenance
Created in the early eighteenth century, the print reflects the period’s interest in natural history illustration. While specific ownership records are limited, the work remains an example of Edwards’ contribution to the development of scientific and decorative printmaking in Britain.
Artist & collection
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