OLLI-HIST-2268 - John James Audubon & The Birds of America

Course Description

John James Audubon, a French-American artist and naturalist, embarked on an ambitious journey in the 1820s to document every bird in his newly adopted nation of the United States. The result was The Birds of America, a massive collection of hand-painted bird engravings, each measuring over 3’ by 2’. This masterpiece is still regarded by many as the finest- and most expensive - book ever published. We will take time to learn about Audubon’s early life, his methods for collecting and drawing and the intricrate process of creating the book. Additionally, we will take a deep dive into the prints themselves, examining their artistic beauty, and conclude with a reflection of Audubon’s legacy, both its positive impacts and its controversies.