Where can I see Owl on Back of Donkey, Bird on Back of Camel with Other Animals?

Owl on Back of Donkey, Bird on Back of Camel with Other Animals is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Owl on Back of Donkey, Bird on Back of Camel with Other Animals?

Owl on Back of Donkey, Bird on Back of Camel with Other Animals is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Owl on Back of Donkey, Bird on Back of Camel with Other Animals

Owl on Back of Donkey, Bird on Back of Camel with Other Animals is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Nicolaes de Bruyn. It dates from 1594 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:bottom center, in plate: N 1594; lower right, in plate: 5; verso, lower left, in graphite by a later hand: [indecipherable] 27242; verso, lower right, in graphite: B-32,242
Markings: Marked:verso, stamped in black ink: Lessing J. Rosenwald (Lugt 1760b)

About this work

Overview

Owl on Back of Donkey, Bird on Back of Camel with Other Animals is an engraving on laid paper created by Nicolaes de Bruyn in 1594. It features a fantastical assembly of animals rendered in precise black lines.

Subject & Meaning

The engraving depicts a donkey with an owl on its back, a camel carrying a bird, and other animals including a cat, lion, and goat, all crowded together. The unusual pairings and arrangement suggest a whimsical or symbolic intent.

Technique & Style

De Bruyn employed cross-hatching to achieve a sense of depth and texture, with closely spaced lines creating shading and dimensionality. His style, distinct from his uncle Abraham de Bruyn's, was influenced by the work of Lucas van Leyden.