Who painted Le Château des hiboux (Castle of the Owls)?

Le Château des hiboux (Castle of the Owls) was painted by Félix-Hilaire Buhot in 1882.

Where can I see Le Château des hiboux (Castle of the Owls)?

Le Château des hiboux (Castle of the Owls) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Le Château des hiboux (Castle of the Owls)?

Le Château des hiboux (Castle of the Owls) is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Le Château des hiboux (Castle of the Owls)?

Museum-quality prints of Le Château des hiboux (Castle of the Owls) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Le Château des hiboux (Castle of the Owls)

Félix-Hilaire Buhot , 1882

Le Château des hiboux (Castle of the Owls) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Félix-Hilaire Buhot. It dates from 1882 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:across bottom below plate mark in pen and brown ink: 3e Etat. Essai d'aquatinte fais sur (illegible) cuivre dans le coin du quel / j'avait déja gravé cet Ex libris (abandonné). en 1877. / Felix Buhot; lower left in black chalk: a J. Henry Harpse, Esq. (with a sketch of an owl); by later hand, lwoer left verso in graphite: APG 8047; right half in plate: EX LIBRIS / Caesaris Burcus / A son ami Léon Lerey / Felix Buhot aquaforti

About this work

Overview

Félix‑Hilaire Buhot’s 1882 print Le Château des hiboux (Castle of the Owls) combines etching, aquatint, dry‑point and roulette on cream‑colored laid paper. The composition depicts a solitary, foreboding castle perched on a hill, approached by a winding road beneath a storm‑laden sky.

Subject & Meaning

The scene conveys a gothic atmosphere: twisted trees frame the structure, while a tall, ornamented tower bears the inscription “Exlibris” and stylized musical symbols, suggesting a personal or literary connection. The overall mood is one of isolation and mystery, evoking the notion of an enchanted or haunted dwelling.

Technique & Style

Buhot employs a mixture of sketchy line work and dense, dark shading. Dry‑point creates soft, velvety edges, while aquatint provides broad tonal washes that deepen the sky and ground. The roulette tool adds texture to the stone surfaces, enhancing the print’s atmospheric depth.

History & Provenance

Created in 1882, the work reflects the late‑19th‑century interest in atmospheric printmaking. It was produced on 18th‑century cream laid paper, a choice that lends the image an aged, weathered appearance, reinforcing its eerie tone.

Context

Buhot, active in the French print revival, often explored fantastical subjects. This piece aligns with contemporary Symbolist trends, where artists used mythic or gothic imagery to probe psychological states and the uncanny.