(Birds on snow laden Branches)

Ethel Kirkpatrick

Ethel Kirkpatrick chose a long, narrow format with which to present this sweet winter scene, similar in style to many Chinese scroll paintings and likely inspired by the silk painters of the far East, as many British artists were at the time. Kirkpatrick and her sister, Ida, trained at the Royal Academy of Art and it is thought that Ethel learned woodcut from Frank Morley Fletcher, owing to her use of subtle colors and gradation of hues from dark to light. During her long career as an artist she often focused on landscapes and the flora and fauna of the countrysides she visited on trips throughout Europe.

Here, a flock of blue tits hop to and fro among the bare branches of a tree in search of seeds or nuts; in this case, an obliging neighbor has strung peanuts from the woody stems - a common practice in winter, likely to encourage the birds to hang around. After all, they are one of nature’s most efficient pest controllers, consuming more agriculture-harming insects than any other bird in Britain. Blue tits are also known for traveling together to find food and are famous for their acrobatic skills, even hanging upside down if it means reaching an especially delicious treat.