Blue Yellow Back Warbler 1812

This is John James Audubon’s “Blue Yellow Back Warbler”, made sometime in the first half of the 19th century. Audubon was an interesting character, whose ambition was to document all the birds of America, and to do so life-size. What might seem like a straightforward act of scientific recording was, in fact, part of a wider cultural project. America was in the midst of defining its national identity, and its natural landscape played a crucial role. Audubon's meticulous illustrations, often dramatic and dynamic, helped to shape and promote America’s image of itself. It's worth remembering that Audubon was not just an artist but also an entrepreneur. His prints were sold as luxury goods. Audubon, however, has a complicated legacy; his work romanticized the American wilderness at a time when it was under threat, and he was known to have enslaved people. Looking at Audubon’s work today requires us to acknowledge these complex layers of history.