Uil vliegt uit lessenaar 1718

This etching by Dutch artist Bernard Picart depicts a scene from the French poem "Le Lutrin" by Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux. Created in 1718, the artwork shows a humorous scene in which a man is startled by an owl flying out of a lectern. The artwork exemplifies the use of etching as a medium for book illustration, and the intricate details of the scene add to the humor of the poem's theme. "Le Lutrin" is known for its satirical take on the life of clergy, and Picart’s etching captures the comical chaos of the moment.