Horned Owl (Hoornuil) – Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita (1915)

Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita’s Horned Owl (Hoornuil) presents an owl with an almost monumental presence, its enormous eyes and sharply defined facial features emerging from a dense pattern of rhythmic lines. Perched on a broad branch and enclosed within a hand-drawn frame, the bird is rendered with remarkable economy: masses of black contrast with finely carved areas of white, while the repeated patterns of its feathers create an almost textile-like surface. The combination of symmetry, stylization, and meticulous linework gives the image a distinctly decorative character while preserving the solemn, watchful personality of the owl.

Created in 1915, Horned Owl is an excellent example of de Mesquita’s mature graphic style and his fascination with animals as subjects for highly stylized compositions. The Rijksmuseum notes the contrast between the owl’s schematically rendered, symmetrical plumage and the artist’s use of a strong enclosing frame, characteristics that would also interest his famous pupil M. C. Escher. De Mesquita taught Escher graphic techniques at the School for Architecture and Decorative Arts in Haarlem, and his influence on the younger artist’s approach to precise, pattern-based graphic art was significant. The work’s bold black-and-white design also makes it a particularly strong example of early 20th-century decorative woodcut art.

 

🖨️ Print features:

– Made with museum-grade archival paper for excellent printing fidelity and vibrant color reproduction

– Paper weight: 189 g/m2

– For indoor use only

– Care instructions: If the print does gather any dust, you may wipe it off gently with a clean, dry cloth.

– Please note: Due to the production process of these posters, please allow for slight size deviations with a tolerance +/- 1/16″

 

🚚 Fulfillment, Shipping, and Return Policy:

– Printed and shipped from the U.S.

– Ships in a sturdy mailing tube, frame not included

– As our items are unique and made to order, we can only accept a return or exchange in the event that an item arrives damaged or misprinted. We cannot accept returns if you order the wrong size or change your mind. Any return requests must be made within 14 days of receiving the order.

 

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