Hoornuil 1915

Editor: Here we have Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita's "Hoornuil" from 1915, a woodcut print currently held at the Rijksmuseum. The stark contrast of the black ink on paper gives it a dramatic, almost severe feeling. What kind of presence do you see in this image? Curator: This owl… he is a guardian. Consider the owl's enduring symbolism, deeply rooted in ancient cultures as a messenger of wisdom, a guide through darkness, and a watchful protector. Mesquita's choice of a stark, graphic style intensifies these primal associations. He’s simplified the form, yet captured something essential about the animal’s essence. Editor: So, you see this piece more as a symbol than just a bird on a branch? Curator: Absolutely. The owl's frontal pose, those unwavering eyes… think about what that kind of direct gaze evokes in us. Do you feel observed? Challenged? There is cultural memory embedded in such direct, unblinking observation. And consider this was created in 1915. What else might that fixed stare mean, at that moment in time? Editor: That's true. With the war… that unwavering gaze might represent a watchfulness over Europe. Is that fair to say? Curator: Precisely. An owl’s silence makes him the perfect keeper, don't you think? Now, look closer at the carved lines themselves. Are they uniform? Mechanical? Editor: No, I see variations in line thickness, a definite human touch…a raw quality. Curator: Indeed, each stroke carries intention. This is not a simple depiction. Mesquita channels the weight of ancient knowledge, myth, and a contemporary awareness into this watchful creature. Editor: It really does carry much more depth than I initially perceived. Seeing it as a convergence of cultural memory and a response to its own time is enlightening. Thank you!