Primitive Bust c. 1939

John Sullivan's "Primitive Bust" from 1939 is a drawing that depicts a wooden sculpture. The sculpture is carved in a simplified, almost primitive style, with a focus on the basic form of a human figure. Sullivan's use of brown tones highlights the texture of the wood, giving the drawing a sense of realism and grounding it in a tangible material. The sculpture, with its simplified features and austere composition, evokes a sense of ancient art and could be viewed as a commentary on artistic tradition and its influence on the artist.