The artwork titled “Untitled (Grand Owl Habitat)” was created by artist Joseph Cornell in 1946. This piece is associated with the Surrealism movement and serves as an installation. The artwork’s dimensions are 24 x 13 1/8 x 4 13/16 inches.
The artwork presents a solitary owl, meticulously rendered with a keen eye for detail, positioned centrally within a box that has been fashioned to resemble a cage or habitat. The backdrop of the owl’s environment is comprised of what appears to be a night sky, enveloping the figure in a coating of mystery and depth that is characteristic of Surrealist works. With the owl looking directly out, there is an establishing connection with the observer, as though inviting an interaction or contemplation.
Textures and materials are integral to the atmospheric quality of the piece. Rustic and weathered elements of the box suggest age and evoke an aura of historical objecthood, reminiscent of the assemblage tradition wherein everyday objects are repurposed to create new art forms. Cornell’s work here stands as a representation of his unique approach, where the ordinary is transformed into the extraordinary, and where the viewer is encouraged to interpret the juxtaposition of objects and the environments created within the artist’s carefully constructed boxes.
