Bird of Prey

Roderick Mead

Evidence of both his early classical training and the Abstract influence of Atelier 17 are present in this wild, powerful image of a raptor subduing its prey, done for the Woodcut Society in 1950. The thread of automatic line - a signature of Stanley William Hayter’s famed workshop - runs through both birds like a wire structure around which their feathers and talons are built. Roderick Mead uses the majority of the black ink to concentrate on the raptor, and has chosen to portray it with as much sleek stylization as a heavy bomber.

A bird of prey, also known as a raptor, is a predatory bird, distinguished by a hooded bill and sharp talons. In ornithology, birds of prey are defined as having very good eyesight for finding food, strong feet for holding food, and a strong curved beak for tearing flesh. Most birds of prey have strong curved talons for catching or killing prey. Common names for birds of prey include eagles, ospreys, kites, hawks, buzzards, harriers, vultures, falcons and owls.