Harriet Pilcher- Little Owl

Little Owl, 2026

Ink & Marker on Paper, 30 x 42 cm (unframed)

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'Little Owl', is a part of an ongoing series titled 'The Birds' – The series addresses the historic and ongoing dehumanisation of women, specifically considering the term 'birds' as a diminutive. The continual use of this term (which has been in use in some form since at least 1915, although it is suspected to derive from Middle English) reinforces the idea of women as cute, helpless, fragile, lesser. Each image in the series shows a different bird-headed woman from an era in history, acting as a reminder that birds are also ferocious, majestic, intelligent and require freedom to thrive.

The female little owl is larger and heavier than the male, she incubates her eggs alone and the male delivers food to her while she nests.

50% of the proceeds from this piece will be donated to London Wildlife Trust. To learn more about their work please visit https://www.wildlondon.org.uk/

To see more of Harriet's work be sure to follow on Instagram @pilchards.on.toast