Owl with Cigar and Telephone

William Kent, Amer., (1919-2012), Owl with Cigar and Telephone, Slate print, 1965, 35-1/4 x 21-7/8, signed, dated and annotated Artists Proof in black ballpoint pen, on brightly colored floral patterned fabric measuring 37-3/8 x 24-1/8. Kent, who's exclusive devotion to creating his unique slate prints extended from his near immediate responses to JFK's assassination in November, 1963 to the American Bicentennial in 1976, was contemporary with the ascendence of Pop art, he did not like to be referred to as one of them. His prints however have strong formal affinities with Pop, and his printing on "popular fabnrics of the time confirms  another dimension of this, as seen here. The symbolism of this cryptic iconography with this owl perched on a telephone clutching a cigar in one claw may have been invented by Kent as a non sensical invention, both props pale in contrast to the authority of this owl, clearly one of Kent's favorite birds as he made at least four prints of them. A particularly vibrant impression of this impressive Pop nature print with Kent's quizzical personal iconography. $900