Plate 67 Red-winged Starling or Marsh Blackbird 

This is Plate 67, “Red-winged Starling or Marsh Blackbird,” made by John James Audubon sometime before 1851. It’s an engraving, meaning that the image was incised into a metal plate, inked, and then printed onto paper. Look closely, and you’ll see the subtle texture of the paper itself, which is integral to the print’s effect. Audubon was not only a great artist, but also a canny businessman. He understood that the value of his prints lay not only in their scientific accuracy, but also in their beauty as objects. This explains the choice of the engraving technique itself: prints like this one were made with the help of skilled artisans, who worked laboriously to create a luxurious product. Indeed, Audubon’s prints were aimed at a wealthy audience who could afford to patronize such high-end craftsmanship. So, the next time you look at a print, remember that it’s not just an image, but also the product of a complex social and economic system.