This painting is almost mystical in mood, using the same dark palette, shallow foreground and modulation of dark and light to create depth as the Kunitaro titled 'Nude' offered in this sale. Although called a self-portrait the strangely blank eyes and open mouth, particularly in contrast to the alert owl, make this an intriguing composition. Suda was a regular visitor of the Kyoto zoo, and the life he captures in his animal representations comes from his close observations there.