Plate 54: An Owl, with a Second in the Distance Eating a Rabbit c. 1575 - 1580

Joris Hoefnagel created this watercolor and gouache painting of an owl, with another in the distance eating a rabbit, sometime in the late 16th century. Consider the gaze of the owl, confronting us directly, as if questioning our presence in its domain. Hoefnagel was a Flemish artist working at a time of great exploration. He combines scientific observation with symbolic meaning, characteristic of the Northern Renaissance. Here the realistic detail of the owl is set against a symbolic backdrop. The Latin text, which translates to "Neither sea nor land nor air is safe when the enemy is at hand; it profits one little not to be harmful," reflects a world filled with uncertainty. The owl, often seen as a symbol of wisdom, here embodies a darker, predatory aspect of nature. This resonates with the anxieties of a society grappling with religious conflict and political upheaval. Hoefnagel's work invites us to reflect on our own relationship with the natural world, and to question what we consider 'safe' or 'dangerous' in our own lives.