Hoopoe and Owl
1600
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Adriaen Collaert
Adriaen Collaert (1560–1618) was a Flemish artist, born in Antwerp.
See the richer artist page1600
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Hoopoe and Owl is a 1600 ink by Adriaen Collaert, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows two birds—a hoopoe with a long, striped crest and a perched owl with sharp eyes—framing a detailed landscape. Below them, a small town sits by a river, with people fishing, animals grazing, and a castle on a hill. The scene is drawn in fine black lines, with no color. The owl’s fierce gaze and the hoopoe’s curious tilt suggest these birds might stand for something deeper, like ideas or traits. The artist used tiny etched lines to build up shadows and texture, making the scene look almost three-dimensional. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this carved intricate details into metal plates.
Adriaen Collaert (1560–1618) was a Flemish artist, born in Antwerp.
See the richer artist page
