Cougar (Felis concolor) by John Woodhouse Audubon, 1845

John Woodhouse Audubon’s Felis concolor, The Cougar. Female & young. (1845) is a vivid testament to 19th-century Naturalism—an era when art, science, and exploration converged to document the living world with fresh urgency and care. The American artist, son and collaborator of the famed John James Audubon, renders the North American cougar with a striking blend of anatomical precision and lifelike energy. Set against a landscape that hints at wild, unclaimed terrain, the mother and her cub appear alert and agile, embodying both the power and tenderness of this elusive species.

This listing is for a museum-quality fine art print of Audubon’s Victorian zoological illustration, available on acid-free archival paper or on artist’s cotton canvas. Each print is produced with rich, lightfast inks to preserve tonal depth and detail. Choose from a range of sizes, with optional custom framing and matting. The Unique Maps Co. can personalize your print with custom sizing, margins, or a commemorative caption—perfect for tailoring to your space or gifting needs.

About the artist: John Woodhouse Audubon (1812–1862) was a skilled painter and field artist who helped expand his family’s legacy from birds to mammals. Working alongside expeditions and naturalists of his day, he contributed drawings and on-the-spot studies that fed into the landmark natural history series The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America. His best works balance scientific clarity with a heightened sense of drama, bringing viewers astonishingly close to the habits and habitats of the animals he observed.

Why this subject matters: The cougar—scientifically titled Felis concolor in Audubon’s era, and widely known as the puma or mountain lion—holds a unique place in North American ecology. Always present but rarely seen, it symbolizes the continent’s vast and rugged wilderness. By the mid-1800s, as exploration and settlement pressed westward, illustrations like this helped the public envision wildlife with accuracy and respect, bridging the gap between field observation and armchair discovery.

Color, style, and design: The composition layers warm browns and tawny oranges of the cougars’ coats against a backdrop of deep, cooling greens, creating a compelling push-pull between subject and setting. Gradual tonal transitions model the musculature and plush fur, while the foliage and rock forms are built from organic, slightly angular shapes that heighten the animals’ rounded silhouettes. Audubon’s smooth, measured strokes on the figures and more varied texturing in the landscape yield a beautifully balanced Naturalist scene—part portrait, part habitat study. Originally produced through the lithographic techniques of the period and often finished with hand-coloring, the image retains a luminous clarity that translates superbly to modern archival prints.

This elegant fine art print suits a wide range of interiors—from study or library to nursery or living room—and makes a thoughtful gift for wildlife lovers, natural history enthusiasts, and seasoned travelers returning from North American parks and mountain landscapes. It’s an inspired choice for Christmas, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, or a distinctive housewarming present.

If you're not sure what size to order, or you're looking for a custom order of some kind – a different size, a different colour, a special frame – then please contact me. I usually respond within a few minutes.

You can see an example of my fine art personalisation service in the fifth image. Zoom in and take a look. My personalised artwork is always very well received. Take a look at more examples of personalisation.

You can also choose to age your art print to make it look older. This is popular amongst my customers who want their artwork to look like an older, antique print. You can see an example of ageing in the sixth product image, or go ahead and check out lots of examples of other aged artwork.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this art print.

I can print and frame this beautiful piece of art at sizes up to 3 metres (10ft). If you are looking for a size or framing option that isn't available online, please get in touch.

This artwork is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. My standard frames come in six colours (black, dark brown, dark grey, antique gold, oak and white), and custom framing is available for an additional charge. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.