"Flight of the Woodcock"

The Eurasian woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) is a discreet and mysterious migratory bird, emblematic of the dense undergrowth of Europe and Asia. It stands out for its perfectly camouflaged plumage, a true marquetry of brown, fawn and grey, as well as for its long sensitive bill and its large dark eyes set very high on the head, giving it an exceptional 360-degree field of vision.

The vertical composition was chosen precisely to highlight the upward movement and energy of its take-off. The bird occupies the centre of the painting, its rounded wings pointed upwards in the abrupt beat so characteristic of the species. It is flight that reveals the woodcock in all its liveliness and breaks its invisibility: on the ground, it blends completely into the leaf litter; in the air, it unveils all the graphic complexity of its feathers. The background of warm ochre splashes and washes brings out the subtle tones of its woodland plumage without weighing down the composition.