Owl, documented to 1939

Traylor's modernist and almost abstracted forms are often constructed around hand-drawn geometric shapes and grid lines that structure his designs. The owl's body has a strong, visible rectangular underdrawing that dictated the bird's form and its position on the cardboard. Adding dimension and another layer of visual interest, this quadrilateral element beautifully contrasts with the softness of the owl's tail and humor in its rounded eyes.