Owl on Log Bank c. 1937

William O. Fletcher rendered this “Owl on Log Bank” in watercolor, ink, and graphite. The owl, perched solemnly on a log, carries a weighty history in the human psyche. Since antiquity, the owl has been a powerful symbol, often associated with both wisdom and ominous foreboding. In ancient Greece, it was the emblem of Athena, goddess of wisdom, its nocturnal habits linking it to hidden knowledge. Yet, in other traditions, the owl’s association with darkness has cast it as a harbinger of ill fortune and death. Consider the ancient Roman strix, a nocturnal bird of ill omen, preying on human flesh. This fear-laden image of the owl resurfaces in medieval folklore, where it is often seen as a companion of witches, embodying the eerie and the uncanny. The owl, therefore, represents more than just wisdom; it embodies our primal fears and intuitive understanding. Its presence resonates with a complex array of cultural memories, engaging us on a subconscious level that transcends any singular interpretation.