Shop Sign c. 1938

Curator: Ah, here we have John Sullivan’s "Shop Sign," created around 1938. It’s a charcoal drawing. What catches your eye first? Editor: Well, it’s incredibly…stolid, isn’t it? A determined, if slightly weary, lion. The texture makes me think of a block print somehow. Curator: Interesting! I’m drawn to how the artist uses charcoal to mimic the grain of the wood. It tricks the eye into thinking it's actually carved. Think about what a lion represents - strength, pride, royalty. Imagine this above a shop – what kind of message does it send? Editor: Power! Authority, of course. A bit old-fashioned, maybe, even back then. Lions were the emblem of empires. The sculptor must have been making something intended to signal status. Curator: I see this not just as symbolism of raw power, but also the psychological effect. The lion serves as a visual cue, conditioning potential customers before they even enter. Does the establishment convey similar strengths in service and product quality? It sets the stage… Editor: A king's welcome! It's brilliant how Sullivan captures this almost tangible sense of permanence and resilience with such ephemeral material – charcoal on paper! It's a reminder, I guess, that images have their own way of becoming anchored in our cultural memory. The image becomes weightier and more lasting, the charcoal itself almost seems to fade into insignificance, as it creates a solid and iconic animal symbol. Curator: And it’s just so direct! It's an object meant for pure communication, a promise—or a warning depending on how you felt about lions! The directness of its intention makes me want to give it a story. Maybe this business owner's last name was Lyons? Editor: Maybe he simply needed a mascot! Either way, it’s clever to distill the concept to this iconic animal form that we all understand, regardless of language. You nailed it: symbol turned communication, I agree. Curator: I leave feeling strangely reassured, knowing that somewhere out there, lions are still on duty!