Plate 9 Selby's Flycatcher 

John James Audubon created Plate 9, "Selby's Flycatcher," as part of his ambitious project "Birds of America", amidst a backdrop of rapid colonial expansion in the 19th century. Audubon sought to document all the bird species of North America, yet his work is complicated by his participation in the same colonial project that threatened the habitats of these birds. He lived in a society marked by deep racial divides, and though he himself was of mixed race, he benefited from the system of slavery. This image of the Selby’s Flycatcher invites us to consider how our perception of nature is always mediated by cultural and historical contexts. Does this artwork, with its meticulous detail, encourage a sense of wonder and connection with the natural world, or does it also serve as a reminder of the complex relationship between humans and nature? As we consider this image, let us reflect on our own place within these interwoven histories.