"She posed herself as a superior owl, and was just a ridiculous owl" from Scenes from the Private and Public Life of Animals 1832 - 1852

This lithograph by J. J. Grandville presents a peculiar character: a woman with the head of an owl, dressed in elaborate finery. The owl, traditionally a symbol of wisdom and knowledge, is here portrayed as ridiculous, undermining its venerable associations. Consider the owl’s piercing gaze. Across cultures, the eyes have been seen as windows to the soul, and the owl's large, forward-facing eyes evoke a sense of intense scrutiny. Yet, in this context, the owl's head atop a fashionable lady's body suggests a critique of superficiality. Think back to ancient Greece, where the owl was sacred to Athena, goddess of wisdom, or its later association with occult knowledge in the Middle Ages. How far it has fallen! Here, Grandville employs the owl not as an emblem of enlightenment, but as a satirical tool to expose human folly. This juxtaposition engages our subconscious, provoking us to question the true nature of wisdom and the absurdity of misplaced pride. The image persists in our memory not as a celebration of intellect, but as a reminder of the masks we wear and the roles we perform.