Birds · 19th century
€ 120
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
General age-related toning. Minor wear and foxing, blank verso. Good condition with age spotting in the margins. Please study image carefully.
Redshank and Greenshank in Winter Plumage, Antique Bird Lithograph c.1895
This fine chromolithograph, printed circa 1900, presents two beautifully illustrated wading birds: the Spotted Redshank (*Totanus fuscus*) and the Common Greenshank (*Totanus littoreus*), shown in their subtle winter plumage. These shorebirds are labeled in German as “Dunkelfarbiger Wasserläufer” and “Hellfarbiger Wasserläufer,” or “dark-colored wader” and “light-colored wader,” respectively.
The Redshank, standing tall in the foreground, is easily recognized by its reddish legs and straight, slightly upturned bill. The Greenshank is depicted resting just behind, more delicate in appearance with its finely tapered beak and paler legs. Both birds are set against a calm marshland landscape, with soft twilight tones in the sky reflecting the serene character of their watery habitat. The quiet reeds and stones along the shore are rendered in muted natural colors that further enhance the realism and calm mood of the scene.
Signed in the plate by *Bruno Geisler*, a respected German naturalist illustrator, this print comes from a well-regarded ornithological series or atlas that combined scientific accuracy with aesthetic elegance. Geisler’s meticulous attention to proportion, feather texture, and environmental detail made his work highly valued both in his own time and today.
The lithograph was produced using the chromolithographic method, which involved the careful layering of color using multiple stones—an advanced printing technique of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As such, it offers exceptional tonal quality and subtle gradation, capturing the delicate coloring of the birds and their habitat with precision.
Ideal for collectors of antique bird prints, natural history art, or as part of a refined interior decor scheme, this plate exemplifies the best of European ornithological illustration.
Condition and framing tips:
Good condition with foxing or spotting around edges in the borders, but the image is clean and bright.
Frame in a natural wood or brushed brass with an ivory or soft green mat to emphasize the gentle color palette and naturalistic feel of this detailed shorebird illustration.
