Snowy Owl

Snowy Owl

Robert Havell Jr.

1831

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This print shows two snowy owls perched on a gnarled tree branch. The owls face each other, their white feathers marked with dark speckles. The background is a moody blue sky with faint clouds and a hint of moonlight. The artist used fine lines to show the owls’ feathers in detail, almost like stitching. This was a common way to add texture in early prints. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this made precise prints before photography.

More by Robert Havell Jr.

Artifact World Gallery — 100,000 artworks Get the app