Pronkende pauw en twee uilen 1895

Theo van Hoytema crafted this print of a peacock and two owls with lithography. Dominating the scene, the peacock, with its resplendent plumage, has long been a symbol of vanity and pride, yet also of immortality in various cultures. Consider how the peacock's ostentatious display contrasts with the solemn presence of the owls. Across cultures, owls are harbingers of wisdom, guardians of the night, and symbols of death. This duality echoes through time. In ancient Greece, the owl was associated with Athena, goddess of wisdom, while in other traditions, it signaled darkness and misfortune. Here, the juxtaposition of the peacock and owls speaks to our complex relationship with knowledge and mortality. The peacock's vibrant display is a reminder of our fleeting existence. These symbols, deeply embedded in our collective psyche, create a visual tension, engaging us on a subconscious level. The cyclical progression of these symbols emphasizes how they resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different contexts.