COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON 

John Leech created this line drawing, Compliments of the Season, using ink on paper. The composition sets a stark scene, defined by contrasting textures and tones, evokes a sense of bleak midwinter. Note the fox positioned low in the foreground, its gaze directed at something unseen beyond the frame, its fur rendered with dense hatching. Behind the fox, a large, smooth sphere dominates, possibly snow-covered, with a small plant emerging from the top. The sphere is juxtaposed against the angular lines of a brick wall and a wooden door, both executed with a network of fine lines that suggest rough textures. Leech uses stark contrasts between light and shadow to create depth and focus, drawing our eye through the image and underscoring the thematic tension between nature and the man-made environment. The fox is a cultural signifier representing cunning, and its juxtaposition with a barren, artificial environment suggests the vulnerability of nature.