Head of Saint John the Baptist 

Thomas Butts, Jr. created this striking head of Saint John the Baptist using engraving techniques. The dense network of lines and the monochrome palette evoke a sense of depth and emotional intensity. The artist's meticulous application of hatching and cross-hatching defines form and conveys texture. Consider how the intricate lines build the subject’s features and hair, creating both volume and a dynamic surface. The gaze is intense, the brow furrowed, the mouth set in a determined line. All these elements contribute to an expression of fervent conviction and resolve. We can see in the careful rendering of light and shadow a play between the corporeal and the spiritual. Butts uses the visual language to explore themes of faith, sacrifice, and prophetic vision. The cross which St John is holding becomes more than a religious symbol, it is an exploration into the visual possibilities of form and line, inviting us to look beyond the literal representation.