Blackbird 1928

Archibald Thorburn made this watercolor, “Blackbird” in 1928. Look at the way he’s built up those browns and yellows in layers. You can almost feel the crispness of the autumn leaves. The paint here is thin, transparent; it’s all about capturing light and atmosphere, not texture. The blackbird itself is rendered with such precision, almost photographic. But then, around it, the brushwork loosens, becomes more suggestive. Notice how Thorburn hasn't laboured every detail. Take the ground beneath the bird; it is scrubby, fast. It’s this tension between detail and looseness that gives the work its energy. It reminds me of Audubon, another master of birds, but with a touch more painterly freedom. It's a reminder that art is about seeing, feeling, and, finally, letting go. It’s this balance between observation and interpretation that makes the work so compelling.