Cock and Hen Pheasant in Winter 1926

Archibald Thorburn made this small painting of pheasants in the snow, probably with watercolors, in 1926. It’s like he’s using the brush to describe every feather in perfect detail, but also it’s about how these colors vibrate against each other. I love the way he’s built up the texture of the male pheasant's plumage, how the tiny strokes of orange and brown make the surface shimmer. The way the black ink of the tail feathers drips into the pristine white of the snow. He’s obviously studied these birds closely and recorded every tiny detail, but it’s also a great example of how the surface of a painting can become a little world of its own. It reminds me a little of Audubon’s bird paintings in its attention to detail. Both artists are interested in realism, but they also understand that painting is always an act of interpretation. Ultimately, it’s the artist’s individual vision that matters.