The Owls' Castle and Bookplate of Léon Lerey

The Owls' Castle and Bookplate of Léon Lerey

The imagery for this print was begun in 1877 on the right side of the composition as a bookplate for the bookseller Leon Lerey and was never completed. A few impressions were printed, and the plate was then put aside. Ten years later, Buhot retrieved the plate, drew the owls’ castle at the left, and, deciding to incorporate both images in one design, added the sketches and tonal variations between the two. The motif of the flying owl occurs throughout Buhot’s work, but the combination of circular and rectangular compositions is unusual and is evidence of Japanese influence.

Félix Buhot
French, 1847–1898

Private collection

1877–78/1887

This image is posted publicly for non-profit educational uses, excluding printed publication. Other uses are not permitted.

Etching, drypoint, aquatint, sulphur tint, roulette, and burnishing
Fourth state of five
Plate: 4 7/16 x 7 1/16 inches