Head of a Lioness 

Editor: Here we have John Macallan Swan's "Head of a Lioness," held in the Tate Collections. It’s a small print, just a few inches across, yet somehow it roars with energy. What do you make of its raw, almost unfinished quality? Curator: Raw is a perfect word! It's like catching a glimpse into Swan's creative process, isn't it? I see a study in power, but also vulnerability, the lioness caught mid-roar, maybe even mid-yawn. What do you think that open mouth signifies? Editor: Maybe a challenge, a warning? I’m struck by how the lines almost vibrate with life. Curator: Absolutely. It's a reminder that even in a sketch, art can capture something truly essential. It speaks to the wildness, not just in the lioness, but perhaps within ourselves as well. Editor: I see what you mean. This makes me look at preliminary sketches in a totally new light.