Eagle Owl – Bruno Liljefors (1905)

Two orange eyes looking straight at you. A Eurasian eagle owl sits on the ground, its feathers fluffed up into a great golden-brown ball, ear tufts raised. Its plumage melts into the moss and dry grass around it, so that at first you only see its eyes, burning orange in the half-light.

Bruno Liljefors spent his life watching wild animals in the Swedish forests and archipelago. He did not paint them as specimens but as living creatures in their own world, often almost camouflaged in it, which is exactly what makes this owl so striking.

Why it works on your wall

• A strong presence: the owl’s stare gives character to a study, a library or a hallway
• Warm, natural tones: browns, ochres and gold that suit wood, leather and linen
• Framing tip: a dark wood or black frame brings out the glow of the eyes

The painting

Bruno Liljefors (1860–1939) is considered the greatest Swedish wildlife painter. A keen hunter and naturalist, he was influenced by Japanese art and by photography, and painted foxes, birds of prey and cats with remarkable truth. He signed this eagle owl in 1905; it now belongs to the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm.

• Artist: Bruno Liljefors (1860–1939)
• Date: 1905
• Technique: oil on canvas
• Original: Nationalmuseum, Stockholm
• Theme: eagle owl, bird of prey, wildlife

Your print

• Colours restored from a high-definition scan of the original
• Printed in Europe on thick archival matte paper, FSC certified
• From A3 to A0, plus 40×60, 50×70, 60×90 and 70×100 cm and 12×18 to 27×40 inch sizes, all made for standard frames
• Free shipping, no minimum order. Shipped rolled in a sturdy tube

Pair it with Liljefors’ Fox or Hans Georg Müller’s Two Owls Fighting over a Rat, or explore our vintage animal prints.