Lion Head c. 1939

This is Clayton Clements's Lion Head, drawn with what looks like watercolour or gouache on paper. There's a real sense of precision in the strokes that define the lion's mane, each line carefully placed to suggest texture and depth. The colour palette is muted, almost monochrome, but it works to emphasize the sculptural quality of the original object. You can almost feel the weight of the wood, imagine running your fingers over those carved details. The starkness of the colour creates a sense of timelessness, like a faded photograph or a memory. Look at how the artist uses light and shadow to create a sense of volume, especially around the lion's snout and teeth. It's a study in contrasts, really. There's something almost heraldic about this image, like it could be lifted from a medieval crest. Think of someone like Dürer, with his meticulous attention to detail and interest in natural forms. Ultimately, what resonates here is the artist’s respect for the craft of carving, and the way he translates that into a two-dimensional form.