Red-Breasted Merganser 1913

Archibald Thorburn painted this watercolor of Red-Breasted Mergansers, and it’s like stepping into a moment of quiet observation. The colors are muted, almost as if the scene is viewed through a gentle fog, which helps capture the calm of this natural setting. Look at the male duck, with its iridescent green head, each feather is so carefully rendered, as though Thorburn relished the act of detailing. Then, the female—soft browns and tans, a more subtle beauty. The way the light catches the water, broken by the reeds and reflected in the ducks' eyes. It’s like the painting itself is breathing. Thorburn reminds me a bit of Audubon, but with a softer touch. He invites us into the private lives of birds, making art that celebrates the natural world and the joy of seeing. It makes you want to pause, breathe, and really look.