Carved Cat Head Gargoyle c. 1936

Alton K. Skillin made this drawing of a 'Carved Cat Head Gargoyle' using graphite and gray wash on paper. I can only imagine the artist deeply engaged in a process of observation and rendering; the work feels very precise. The cat's head emerges slowly, through trial, error, and intuition; a sort of material inquiry, with gray washes mapping out the gargoyle's every contour. I sympathize with Skillin, thinking about the countless artists who have tried to capture the essence of a subject on paper, each line a question, each shadow a potential answer. What's on their mind as they coax this architectural feline into being? Are they thinking about its function perched atop a building, warding off evil spirits and rainwater, or are they simply drawn to the aesthetic possibilities? This image of the gargoyle somehow feels like an invitation, a way to consider our connection with art history and how each artist is always building upon the work of the past. It's an ongoing conversation, a beautiful cycle of inspiration.