Wolf's Head c. 1939

Editor: This is Harry King's "Wolf's Head," from around 1939, a pencil and charcoal drawing. It's striking, almost architectural in its precision, despite depicting something wild. What stories do you think this image carries? Curator: The wolf is a potent symbol. Across cultures, it can signify many things: cunning, loyalty, guardianship, but also savagery and isolation. Consider how the image of the wolf has shifted – from revered ancestor in some indigenous traditions, to feared predator in European folklore. Editor: So the way we interpret this drawing really depends on the cultural lens we bring to it? Curator: Precisely! And King, in rendering it so starkly, perhaps invites us to consider all these layers. Notice how he captures the texture of the wood, almost as if he is trying to freeze a moment in the timber’s history too. Have you thought about what the inclusion of the grain might signify? Editor: Hmm, the grain could represent growth and resilience, a link to nature's constant cycles. But, how does this drawing relate to our present day? Curator: Symbols evolve, of course. Now we may see an environmental message here, a nod to the endangered wilderness. Even a connection to our primal selves. How does the image resonate with you now? Editor: I see it as a reminder of our complex relationship with the natural world, a reminder of what we risk losing. Curator: It's fascinating how an image can hold so much history, and yet remain so relevant. Editor: Absolutely. It really encourages me to look deeper, to think about the context and layers within a seemingly simple drawing.