Leopard Lying Down 

Editor: Here we have John Macallan Swan’s "Leopard Lying Down," a drawing from the Tate. It feels so relaxed, almost like a big, sleepy house cat. What do you see in it? Curator: It's interesting, isn't it? I see a study in contrasts. The relaxed pose, yes, but also this simmering power, hinted at in the musculature. Swan really captures that duality, that potential energy. What do you make of the unfinished background? Editor: It feels like the focus is entirely on the leopard itself, isolating it. But is it unfinished, or intentional? Curator: I think it's both! Swan wasn't aiming for photorealism, but rather to capture the essence, the spirit, of the animal. A full background might distract from that raw, untamed feeling. Editor: I never thought about it that way. It's like the background is unnecessary to understanding the essence of the leopard. Curator: Exactly! It’s a study of being, not of setting.