Artwork
The Square Book of Animals: The British Bull-Dog
The Square Book of Animals: The British Bull-Dog 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 British Bull‑Dog* is a print by William Nicholson, a British artist known for his work in painting, printmaking and illustration. The image presents a single bulldog rendered in a stark, graphic manner, forming part of a series of stylised animal portraits.
Subject & Meaning
The composition isolates the bulldog, seated on a plain plane, its characteristic wrinkled face and loose skin emphasized through bold line work. By stripping away background detail, the print focuses attention on the animal’s form, inviting viewers to consider the breed’s distinctive physical traits.
Technique & Style
Nicholson employed a limited palette of two tones—light brown for the canine and black for the surrounding space—using strong, simplified lines that define the figure. This binary colour scheme and graphic reduction are typical of turn‑of‑the‑century printmaking, reflecting the artist’s proficiency in woodcut and wood‑engraving methods.
History & Provenance
The print belongs to a broader series of animal studies produced by Nicholson at the close of the 19th century, a period when he was active in both fine‑art and commercial illustration. It is currently held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is accessible for public viewing.
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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.
