Watervogel 1646

"Watervogel," a 1646 etching by Czech-born artist Wenceslaus Hollar, depicts a waterbird perched on a shoreline. Hollar, known for his meticulous detail and masterful use of line, captures the bird's plumage and anatomy with precision. The bird is the focal point of the composition, its elegant posture and sharp gaze conveying a sense of life. This etching, which is part of the Rijksmuseum collection, is a fine example of Hollar's work in natural history illustration, a genre that he helped to define during the 17th century.