Description
One of Lionel Lindsay’s most sought after engravings, numbered 4 from the edition of 100 at lower right and signed at lower left in pencil.
In Siesta, Lindsay uses a large central white space and a dramatic black shadow to establish the mood of a blazing summer’s day. The cat lazing on the step, which is only defined by family cut black lines, is a creature both of the deep shadows and of the lighter foreground; its tabby stripes proclaim its allegiance to both environments. The border of nasturtiums creeping toward the central area creates a curious ambiguity of space with the striking white area. Although Lindsay has obviously intended the space to be seen as a horizontal surface, the particular placing of the leaves and their shadows gives a curious impression of vertically, as though the cat sits on a step on top of a wall. Mendelssohn, P.153
References:
Mendelssohn: P.152, ill. p. 152
Collections:
Art Gallery NSW: Accession number DA51.1962
National Gallery Australia: Accession no NGA 83.844
National Gallery Victoria: Accession Number 978-4
National Library Australia: Bib ID186720
