Plate 20 1850 - 1883

John Gould created this lithograph, *Plate 20,* where the intricate details capture the natural beauty of the Amherst Pheasant. Gould was a 19th-century ornithologist whose ambitious projects mirror the Victorian era's fascination with categorizing and understanding the natural world. Considered through the lens of colonialism, the piece reveals the complex relationship between scientific exploration and imperial power. Gould's depictions of exotic birds were celebrated in Europe, but they also reflect a Western perspective on the natural world, framing these creatures as specimens to be studied and possessed. The pheasant itself, with its vibrant plumage, becomes a symbol of the exotic "other," reinforcing prevailing power dynamics. The print invites a deeper consideration of how we visually consume nature and whose perspectives are privileged in these representations. As you look at this, you might ask yourself, what does it mean to truly see and respect the natural world around us?