A Pair of Snipe 1915

Archibald Thorburn made this watercolour of a pair of snipe with what looks like very soft and delicate brushwork. It's as if each little feather or blade of grass is carefully placed, a real labor of love and patience. The colors here are muted, mostly browns and greens, which gives it a very natural, earthy feel. But look closely, and you'll see the way the light catches the birds' feathers, making them almost glow. It’s that kind of detail that really draws me in, I find myself getting lost in the texture. Notice the beak of the bird to the left, how it blends with the marsh, a perfect example of the piece showing the elegance of the natural world. It reminds me of other artists who dedicated their lives to capturing the beauty of nature, like Audubon, but Thorburn has his own unique touch. In the end, art is really just a conversation, isn't it?