Plate 149 Sharp-tailed Finch 

John James Audubon made this print of the Sharp-tailed Finch sometime in the first half of the 19th century. It's a hand-colored engraving with etching, a process which allows for fine detail and delicate shading. Audubon’s image creates meaning through both scientific observation and cultural reference. The birds are presented with accuracy but also with a kind of romantic drama, evoking the vast, untamed landscapes of the American continent. His “Birds of America” series, of which this is a part, appealed to wealthy patrons interested in scientific exploration and natural history. But this was also a period of territorial expansion, with the concomitant displacement of Native American populations and the exploitation of natural resources. Audubon himself was deeply implicated in these processes, and we might see his work as both a celebration of nature and a reflection of the social and economic forces that were transforming the American landscape. To fully understand Audubon's work, we need to consider the social conditions that shaped artistic production in his time. Historical archives are a good place to start.