Plate 13. Snow Bird 

John James Audubon made this print of snow birds using a combination of etching, engraving, and aquatint. He then hand-colored the final image, which gives it a sense of immediacy and life. The printmaking process allowed Audubon to create multiple copies of his artwork, essential for widespread distribution during a time when photography was still in its early stages. This reproductive method democratized access to his detailed studies of birds, taking them from the realm of scientific illustration into a broader cultural sphere. Consider the labor involved: the initial close observation of the birds in their natural habitat, the meticulous translation of that experience into a drawing, the skilled work of the printmakers in rendering the image on metal plates, and finally, the delicate hand-coloring of each impression. By recognizing this chain of production, we can understand how Audubon's prints bridge the gap between artistic expression, scientific documentation, and the burgeoning print industry of the 19th century.