Uil bij een opengeslagen boek, omringd door illustraties in de marge c. 1883

Félix Hilaire Buhot created this etching featuring an owl and an open book, surrounded by marginal illustrations. The owl, often associated with wisdom and nocturnal knowledge, sits before a book, a symbol of learning and enlightenment. Consider how the owl has appeared through the ages, from the ancient Greeks who saw it as a companion to Athena, to its later association with darkness and the occult. These shifting interpretations reveal a complex interplay between conscious understanding and subconscious fears. Buhot's choice to place the owl, encircled by enigmatic marginalia, engages our collective memory. The image resonates on a subconscious level, stirring primal feelings connected to the unknown and the unseen. This convergence of symbols invites us to explore the cyclical journey of knowledge and its shadow, constantly resurfacing and evolving through history.