Plate 35: Female Green-Winged Teal, Red-Breasted Merganser(?), Sparrow, and a Greenfinch(?) c. 1575 - 1580

This painted page was made by Joris Hoefnagel around 1600, with watercolor and ink on paper. It's easy to overlook the process of works like this, given the subtlety of the materials. But consider: watercolor is among the most demanding of media. Its transparent washes allow for very little correction. A skilled hand like Hoefnagel’s is essential. He's created a scene with a variety of birds depicted in fine detail, set against a landscape background. The effect is both naturalistic and highly stylized. The techniques involved, from grinding pigments to the application of delicate brushstrokes, have a long history. These are rooted in craft traditions and illuminated manuscript production. Hoefnagel’s choice of medium speaks to a culture that valued skilled handwork and direct engagement with natural materials. The image celebrates the beauty of the natural world. It reminds us of the labor, skill, and material knowledge involved in translating that beauty into art.