(Cave Painting - Font-de-Gaume Bison)

John William Winkler

After the drawing by archeologist Henri 'Abbe' Beuil (French: 1877-1965) who was the first person to date and dcatalogue the Paleolithic cave art of France and Spain. This is among the bison paintings from ca. 14,000 BCE, found in the village of Font-de-Gaume, Dordogne, France. It appears to be one of the bisons represented in the Fresque wall, which displays a processions of bison and reindeer. Winkler created a series of several charcoal, conte crayon, pastel, graphite, and ink drawings of such imagery, well as carved figures from prehistoric eras.

John William Winkler was generally known for his realistic depictions of daily life, whether on a street corner in Chinatown, San Francisco, or on a bucolic farm in France. However, a portion of his early creative output sprang from the ancient cave drawings found in Spain, France, and the African continent. Often considered the artistic inspiration for 20th century Modernists like Picasso, these images nonetheless appealed to more traditional artists; in Winkler's case, it highlights his ability to change up his delicate linework and to find the elegance of bolder strokes, rich earth tones, and a softness rarely found in his preferred medium, etching.