Artwork
The Square Book of Animals: The Very Tame Lamb
The Square Book of Animals: The Very Tame Lamb is a print by the Impressionist artist William Nicholson. It dates from 1899 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1899, *The Square Book of Animals: The Very Tame Lamb* is a print by British artist William Nicholson. Known for his work across painting, illustration and theatre design, Nicholson produced this piece as part of a series that presents animals in a pared‑down, graphic fashion. The image depicts a lamb rendered in bold contour lines against a muted, light‑brown field.
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on a single lamb, shown standing on all fours with its head turned gently to one side. By reducing the creature to essential shapes and stark outlines, Nicholson emphasizes the animal’s calm demeanor, inviting viewers to contemplate the simplicity and domestic familiarity of a tame sheep.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in a relief‑printing process, likely woodcut or linocut, where the artist incised the design into a block and transferred the image onto paper. The method yields crisp black lines and areas of darker tone that contrast with the pale background, reflecting the late‑19th‑century popularity of bold, graphic prints for books and posters.
History & Provenance
Produced at the close of the 19th century, the print formed part of Nicholson’s animal series intended for illustrated publications. While specific ownership records are limited, the piece is now held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed among other examples of turn‑of‑the‑century printmaking.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Sir William Newzam Prior Nicholson (5 February 1872 – 16 May 1949) was a British painter of still-life, landscape and portraits.
