Long-eared Owl
1837
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1837
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Long-eared Owl is a 1837 ink by Robert Havell Jr., a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This owl looks like it’s frozen in mid-flight, gripping a rough tree branch with sharp claws. Its feathers are a mix of soft browns and warm oranges, with streaks of white on its chest. The face is wide-eyed, with tufts of feathers sticking up like ears, and the wings are spread just enough to show off every detail. The artist used fine lines to show texture—notice how the feathers and bark look almost real. This kind of careful work was common in scientific illustrations from the time. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like Havell made prints like this.
