Merle d'eau et Glacons (Water Bird and Ice)

Robert Hainard

The artist's annotation in the lower right corner of the image includes the name "Allondon," which is a river that begins in Echenevex, France and eventually joins the Rhone at the village of Russin in Geneva, Switzerland. The Allondon and its surroundings were a great source of inspiration for Hainard, whose observation of nature often centered on the smaller flora and fauna of riverbanks.

Here, Hainard's ability to produce a painterly touch within the confines of color woodcut is perfectly demonstrated in this soft portrayal of a songbird perched on a mossy rock, surrounded by ice and tumbling water. He's almost entirely camouflaged in the winter scene with his dark wings and head and snowy-white underbelly.