Grey Goose — engraving

Grey Goose (Greylag Goose).

Technique, Material: Chromolithograph / Paper
Artist: Archibald Thorburn,  Engraver: 
Date, Publisher: Lith. Highest Approved Partnership of I. N. Kushnerev and Co., Moscow.
Size: 25,5x16 cm.

The Greylag Goose (Latin: Anser cinereus, Meyer) is a large waterfowl species of the duck family and the ancestor of most domestic goose breeds. The Latin name Anser cinereus (from anser — goose, and cinereus — ash-grey) was proposed by the German ornithologist Bernhard Meyer (1767–1836), who made significant contributions to the systematics of European birds. In modern scientific classification, this species is known as Anser anser, but the name given by Meyer was widely used in 19th-century literature.

The Greylag Goose is characterized by its large size (body length up to 90 cm, wingspan up to 180 cm), robust build, greyish-brown plumage, and pink bill. It is a migratory bird, breeding in Northern and Eastern Europe, as well as in Asia. In Russia, Greylag Geese inhabit vast areas from the western borders to the Far East, preferring secluded lakes, marshes, and floodplain meadows. The species is of significant commercial value and is a game bird.

The Artist
The drawing for this chromolithograph was created by the eminent British animal painter Archibald Thorburn (1860–1935) . Of Scottish origin, Thorburn was regarded as the finest ornithological painter of his generation. His work is distinguished by exceptional accuracy in depicting birds, a deep understanding of their anatomy and habits, and a masterful rendering of their natural surroundings. He gained greatest fame for his 268 illustrations for Lord Lilford's monumental work "Coloured Figures of the Birds of the British Islands" (1885–1898). Thorburn combined scientific precision with high artistic taste, making his work sought after for both scientific and artistic publications throughout Europe, including Russia.

The Publisher
This lithograph was printed by the printing house of the I. N. Kushnerev and Co. Partnership in Moscow. This enterprise, founded in 1869 by Ivan Nikolayevich Kushnerev, had become one of the largest and most respected printing firms in the Russian Empire by the end of the 19th century. The Partnership's status as "Highest Approved" meant its charter had been personally approved by the Emperor, serving as a mark of exceptional trust and supreme quality. The Kushnerev printing house was renowned for its first-class execution of illustrated publications, including multi-colored chromolithographs. After the 1917 revolution, the enterprise was nationalized and transformed into the famous "Krasny Proletary" printing house.