Corcoran Lion 1999

Pat Oliphant created this drawing of the Corcoran Lion using pen and ink on a roughly twelve-by-eleven-inch sheet of paper. The dense hatching that defines the lion’s form gives the artwork a palpable sense of weight and texture. The heavy lines create a somber tone, as the lion rests its head, almost mournfully, on a plinth. The composition centers on the imposing figure of the lion, rendered with meticulous detail. Oliphant uses line and shadow to convey not just the physical form, but also a sense of the lion's symbolic burden. The gaze of the lion, directed slightly downward, suggests introspection. The very structure of the drawing—the weighty presence of the lion, the starkness of the lines—encourages us to reflect on themes of institutional strength. The work invites ongoing interpretation, prompting viewers to consider the shifting meanings and values within cultural institutions.