What do you see going on in this work of art? Is there a story depicted?

The birds may be communicating or attempting to mate. They may just be resting perched on the branch. They are in their natural habitat in Brazil. There may be an incoming storm based on the grey storm clouds on the left and a clear blue sky on the right in the background. The birds may be caught unaware.

What different visual elements (ie: line, color, light, proportions, scale, composition, media type etc.) do you notice, and how do they help you make sense of the artwork?

There is a lot of focus and important composition on the two birds. The background is more faint and blurry. There is a blue sky mixed with a grey sky, possibly indicating some conflict between the birds or landscape. It is an oil on canvas painting, you’re able to see the feathers vividly. Compared to the other painting made by Heade in the same time period, the sky and background is noticeably darker and less clear. Perhaps there was some sort of issue with the habitat of the humming birds, or simply different weather.

What choices do you think the museum made about the object’s display?

The formatting of the art is interesting, being in a gallery of four individual oil on canvas paintings. This painting is the smallest, maybe to signify the small presence yet significant meaning of birds and the painting. The painting may be small, but its quality is on par with the other paintings. The other three are mainly landscape and scenery, maybe impressionism like some of Claude Monet’s riverside paintings, but this painting is different than the rest. It focuses on a close up shot of two birds instead of a landscape painting covering a large perspective.

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