Uil vliegt uit lessenaar 1811 - 1871

Pierre Pelée created this print, titled "Owl Flying from a Desk", in the 19th century. Observe the startling moment captured here: figures recoil as an owl bursts forth from a scholar's desk. The owl—an ancient symbol laden with complex, often contradictory meanings. Traditionally associated with wisdom and knowledge, yet it is equally linked to darkness, death, and the occult. In ancient Greece, the owl was the emblem of Athena, goddess of wisdom, but in other cultures, it portends ill fortune. Note how, here, the men react in shock, the owl causing chaos as it leaves destruction in its wake. Consider the enduring presence of this nocturnal bird across cultures, and centuries, as a symbol that triggers a primal response that evokes the subconscious. It reminds us that symbols are never fixed, but are constantly evolving and adapting.