Carved Lion's Head c. 1937

Vera Van Voris made this drawing of a Carved Lion’s Head, and what strikes me is how she uses brown ink to capture the texture and form of the original sculpture. It's all about process, isn't it? The materiality here is so interesting. The monochrome palette and tight line work really bring out the grain of the wood and the skill involved in carving. The texture almost seems to ripple, as if the lion’s mane is blowing in the wind. There’s this tension between the flat surface of the paper and the illusion of three-dimensionality, especially in the lion's open mouth; you can almost feel the dampness of its breath. Van Voris's drawing reminds me of the precision and attention to detail in Albrecht Dürer’s prints. But where Dürer aimed for perfection, Van Voris embraces the imperfections, allowing the character of the wood and the hand of the carver to shine through. Ultimately, it’s a celebration of making.