Melissa Miller (born 1951, Houston) is a nationally acclaimed artist known for creating expressive and often mystical depictions of animals and nature. She renders her animals in lusciously painted environments that range in style from naturalistic to surrealistic. Miller has shown her artwork extensively throughout the country and represented the United States for the 41st Biennale di Venezia. She first worked with Flatbed Press in 1992 and has since returned several times to create a variety of stunning prints, including “Group” in 1998.

“Group” is a small etching and aquatint with hand coloring by the artist. It depicts four etched animals standing in close proximity, including a bear, deer, cow, and heron. They are grouped in a clearing before small trees or bushes. The bear stands tall on his feet facing the viewer, almost blending into the brush behind him. The deer, who also faces the viewer, stands opposite the bear, framing the cow and heron in the middle of the image. The cow seems to be looking down or examining the heron, which is positioned with its beak on its feathers. The cow was hand-colored by Miller in each impression, which makes the rosy-hued bovine distinct from the print’s otherwise entirely sepia palette. The unexpected coloring of the cow along with the unusual grouping of four very different animals sporting peculiar gazes make “Group” an incredibly engaging print. Unlike other works by Miller, the bizarre elements in “Group” don’t immediately stand out but are instead slowly revealed from what at first glance seems like a normal pastoral scene.