Artwork
The Square Book of Animals: The Learned Pig
The Square Book of Animals: The Learned Pig 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.
- Accession no.
- 2010.639
- Credit line
- Gift of John Bonebrake
About this work
Overview
The image presents a pig standing on its hind legs within a precise geometric frame, its posture suggesting a scholarly pose.
Created in 1899, The Square Book of Animals: The Learned Pig is a wood‑engraved print by British artist William Nicholson. The image presents a pig standing on its hind legs within a precise geometric frame, its posture suggesting a scholarly pose. The work reflects Nicholson’s versatility, encompassing painting, illustration, and design for children’s books, and exemplifies his interest in combining humor with careful composition.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a pig dressed in a top hat, seated at a small table piled with books and papers, appearing to read attentively. By anthropomorphising the animal as a learned scholar, Nicholson playfully comments on the conventions of education and the absurdity of attributing human intellect to a farm creature, inviting viewers to contemplate the boundaries between nature and culture.
Technique & Style
Executed as a wood engraving, the print relies on fine line work and careful carving to achieve intricate detail. The crisp, linear quality of the engraving emphasizes the decorative border and the textures of the pig’s fur, hat, and surrounding objects. Nicholson’s restrained palette and controlled composition reflect the late‑Victorian taste for precise illustration, while the whimsical subject adds a lighthearted counterpoint.
History & Provenance
First published as part of a series of animal illustrations for a children’s book, the print entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains on view. Its inclusion in the museum’s holdings underscores Nicholson’s role in the development of British illustration at the turn of the twentieth century and provides a tangible link to the era’s educational publications.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Sir William Newzam Prior Nicholson (5 February 1872 – 16 May 1949) was a British painter of still-life, landscape and portraits.
