Fotoreproductie van ontwerp met een leeuw, een pelikaan en een zwarte vogel door Randolph Caldecott before 1887

This photogravure shows a design featuring a lion, a pelican, and a black bird, by Randolph Caldecott. The composition is carefully arranged within a rectangular frame, playing with figure-ground relationships. The artist contrasts the smooth features of the animals against a sketchy background. The eye is drawn to the interplay of light and shadow and the negative spaces between the figures, creating a semiotic dance between what is seen and what is implied. The lion and pelican are more than mere representational images; they function as signs within a visual language. This image destabilizes traditional artistic values by prioritizing form and structure. It emphasizes the artwork's inherent qualities and challenging viewers to interpret its meaning through visual analysis.