Lars Jonsson is an accomplished Swedish painter,
mostly known for having both authored and illustrated a number of classical
field guides to European birds. “Bird Island” is a more straightforwardly
artistic book. It's coffee table format, but you probably shouldn't have it on
your coffee table. Somebody could steal it! It's not clear where “the island”
is situated, but my guess would be somewhere outside Gotland in the Baltic Sea,
since Jonsson apparently lives at Gotland. The quasi-poetic text is of little
interest. The bird paintings are the main course. The avocet, plovers and other
shore birds play prominent roles. The ubiquitous starling shows up even at the
small island, and there is also a magnificent painting of a hooded crow. The
artwork showing herons at night is fascinating. Jonsson has even included a
painting of a cow! “Bird Island” would make a good gift, or the kind of book
you have on your best book shelf to impress causal visitors. Downside: could be
considered somewhat boring by some. Four stars.
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