CERNE ABBAS GIANT 1939

Eric Ravilious created "Cerne Abbas Giant" as a wood engraving print. The composition leads our eye from the rough texture of the foreground fence to the hill figure, subtly integrated with the soft, undulating landscape. The Cerne Abbas Giant, an ancient chalk figure carved into the hillside, is rendered with clean lines against the backdrop of a muted, grey sky. This contrast of the graphic figure against the natural landscape destabilizes traditional landscape art. Ravilious’ use of line and form emphasizes the tension between the man-made and the natural. The barbed wire runs across the foreground, creating a visual barrier. This feature serves not only to frame the scene but also to inject a sense of unease, making the ancient past feel strangely inaccessible. This artwork invites us to consider how we engage with history and the structures that mediate our perceptions of the land.