The Owl
1883
Félix Hilaire Buhot was a master of the 'marginalia' style in printmaking, where a central subject is surrounded by a dreamy, sketchy border of everyday life and fantasy. Here, a wise owl perches over an open book, framed by the Latin phrase 'Pauca Paucis' (few things for few people), while ghostly ships, lanterns, and a witch flying across the moon swirl around the edges. This 1883 print captures the artist's unique ability to blend Impressionistic atmosphere with precise lines, creating a scene that feels like a page torn from a magical, slightly eerie diary.
- Technique
- etching