Birds
€ 140
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Very good condition overall. The print retains its original color and detail with only light age-related toning in the margins. No damage to the image area. Clean and crisp impression.
Antique Bird Print of Little Bustards in Natural Habitat, 19th Century
This finely detailed 19th-century chromolithograph presents a male and female pair of Little Bustards (Otis tetrax), standing gracefully on a grassy patch near a wooded landscape. The male is distinguished by his striking black-and-white neck markings and more vivid contrast in plumage, while the female is subtler in tone, camouflaged with speckled patterns of brown, beige, and cream. Their posture, environment, and anatomical accuracy are rendered with great sensitivity, characteristic of high-quality ornithological illustration from this era.
Little Bustards are ground-dwelling birds of the steppe and open plains, found in southern and central Europe. Their discreet habits and limited habitats have made them increasingly rare, adding to the conservation and educational value of this depiction. The artist has managed to convey not just the visual traits of the birds, but also a glimpse into their natural behavior and environment, with a soft forested background and careful rendering of grass and earth textures underfoot.
This print is produced using chromolithography, a 19th-century technique that employed multiple lithographic stones, each inked with a different color, to build up a richly detailed and lifelike final image. The depth of tone in the plumage and the subtle transition of colors in the sky and foliage are hallmarks of this labor-intensive process.
Though unsigned in full, the print bears the initials A.G., indicating it was likely created by or under the supervision of Anton Goering or a similar German natural history illustrator working in the tradition of Johann Friedrich Naumann. Such plates were often published in zoological atlases and natural history volumes for both scientific and decorative use.
Condition:
Very good condition overall. The print retains its original color and detail with only light age-related toning in the margins. No damage to the image area. Clean and crisp impression.
Framing tips:
Frame in walnut or medium oak with a pale cream or olive green mat to highlight the earthy tones of the birds and landscape. A natural or antique wood finish suits the style of this 19th-century work. UV-protective glass is recommended.
