Who painted Le Hibou (The Owl)?

Le Hibou (The Owl) was painted by Félix-Hilaire Buhot in 1883.

Where can I see Le Hibou (The Owl)?

Le Hibou (The Owl) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Le Hibou (The Owl)?

Le Hibou (The Owl) is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Le Hibou (The Owl)?

Museum-quality prints of Le Hibou (The Owl) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Le Hibou (The Owl)

Félix-Hilaire Buhot , 1883

Le Hibou (The Owl) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Félix-Hilaire Buhot. It dates from 1883 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:lower right in graphite: [indecipherable]; upper right in graphite verso: 161 B [indecipherable] 5em Etat; lower right in graphite verso: APG 7228

About this work

Overview

The print's edges appear intentionally worn or distressed, contributing to its antique and mysterious aesthetic.

Félix-Hilaire Buhot's 1883 etching, Le Hibou, is a complex allegorical print executed in black and brown ink using etching, drypoint, aquatint, saltground, burnishing, and roulette. The composition centers on a large owl perched atop an open book inscribed with the Latin phrase 'PAUCA PAUCIS' (few things to the few), a motto reflecting the artist's view on the exclusivity of true understanding. Surrounding this central figure is a dense, dreamlike tableau of miniature elements: a tiny musician plays a cello, while a ship, a church, and a crowd of indistinct figures float in the background, creating a surreal, crowded atmosphere.

The print's edges appear intentionally worn or distressed, contributing to its antique and mysterious aesthetic. Created during the height of Buhot's experimental period, the work exemplifies his mastery of mixed techniques to achieve varied tonal effects and his fascination with literary symbolism and the fantastical. Le Hibou stands as a significant example of late 19th-century French printmaking, bridging the gap between traditional etching and the emerging Symbolist movement through its enigmatic narrative and intricate surface texture.

Subject & Meaning

At the centre of the image, the owl rests on a volume bearing the inscription “PAUCA PAUCIS,” a phrase that may allude to scholarly pursuits or the folly of excessive reading. The surrounding miniature figures and architectural elements generate a whimsical, dream‑like atmosphere, inviting viewers to contemplate the relationship between knowledge, imagination, and the everyday world.

Technique & Style

Buhot employed a complex combination of intaglio processes. Etching provides the primary outlines, while drypoint adds rich, velvety lines. Aquatint and salt‑ground methods generate tonal variations, and selective burnishing alongside roulette work creates smooth, glossy areas that contrast with the textured grain of the paper. This multilayered approach yields a dense, atmospheric surface characteristic of late‑19th‑century French printmaking.

History & Provenance

Created in 1883, Le Hibou entered the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it remains on view. The print’s acquisition reflects the museum’s commitment to representing the breadth of French graphic art from the period, and it stands as a documented example of Buhot’s experimental print techniques.

Context

Buhot worked during a time when French artists were expanding the expressive possibilities of printmaking, experimenting with mixed intaglio methods to achieve greater depth and nuance. Le Hibou exemplifies this spirit of innovation, aligning with contemporaneous trends that favored intricate, narrative scenes rendered with technical virtuosity.