(Ostriches)

Max Nathan

Known primarily for his idyllic landscapes and village scenes, Danish painter Max Nathan took up woodcut later in his career. Stylistically he moved away from the soft, almost Impressionist work he was known for and delved into a minimalist, black and white format when working with wood and chisel. As well, he focused on exotic animals and often portrayed them in their presumed habitat, though he does not appear to have traveled outside of Europe. Here, two elegant ostriches preen and nibble on greenery, two pyramids in the background representing the African continent they come from. However, the plumes on their heads are fanciful and not akin to any known variety of ostrich that exists today.