Blue Bird 1994

"Blue Bird" is a 1994 realist painting by American artist Nelson Shanks (1937–2015). It features a young woman, her face turned slightly away from the viewer, in a dimly lit interior. Her hand holds a dead bluebird, and a gourd hangs on a red cord beside her. This work is a hallmark of Shanks's style, known for its hyperrealistic depiction of everyday objects and a focus on the subtle interplay between light and shadow. The subject of death and the fleeting nature of life are prevalent themes in Shanks's art.