Artwork

Purple Grackle

Purple Grackle, by William Home Lizars, ink, 1827
Purple Grackle, by William Home Lizars, ink, 1827

Purple Grackle is an ink print by the Romanticist artist William Home Lizars. It dates from 1827 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Purple Grackle is a print created by William Home Lizars in 1827 using etching, engraving, and hand coloring on Whatman paper.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts two black birds perched on a corn stalk surrounded by large green leaves, facing different directions. The naturalistic scene features a mix of green, yellow, and brown hues against a light beige background, emphasizing the birds and plants.

Technique & Style

Lizars employed etching and engraving techniques, adding hand coloring to achieve a detailed and realistic representation. The use of color and composition creates a sense of depth and texture, drawing the viewer's eye into the scene.

Artist & collection

Artist

William Home Lizars

William Home Lizars (1788–1859) was an artist, born in Edinburgh.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.