{"product_id":"the-learned-pig-william-nicholson","title":"The Learned Pig - William Nicholson","description":"\u003cp\u003eA bold woodcut illustration of a pig by William Nicholson, originally published in his 1900 collection, The Square Book of Animals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Learned Pig is a woodcut illustration from William Nicholson's 1900 publication, The Square Book of Animals. This collection features a series of animal portraits, each rendered with the economy of line and bold contrast that defined Nicholson's approach to printmaking. Working in collaboration with his brother-in-law James Pryde under the pseudonym the Beggarstaff Brothers, Nicholson developed a visual language that prioritised silhouette and restricted colour palettes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this specific print, the pig is depicted with a heavy, solid form against a textured, ochre-toned background. The composition is contained within a thick black border, a hallmark of the period's graphic design. Nicholson uses limited ink application to suggest the weight and volume of the animal, relying on the interaction between the dark, blocky shapes and the negative space of the paper. The texture of the woodblock remains visible, providing a tactile quality to the surface of the print.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNicholson's work for The Square Book of Animals demonstrates his ability to capture the essence of a subject through minimal detail. By stripping away extraneous information, he focuses the viewer's attention on the physical presence of the animal. The print reflects the influence of Japanese woodblock prints, which were widely collected and studied by British artists at the turn of the twentieth century. This aesthetic choice results in a clean, graphic image that remains effective in a contemporary interior. The work is a clear example of the transition from Victorian illustration to the more streamlined graphic styles of the early twentieth century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/female-model-vilhelm-lundstrom-2\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eFemale Model - Vilhelm Lundstrøm — Vilhelm Lundstrøm\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/air-man-space-lyubov-popova\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eAir Man Space - Lyubov Popova — Lyubov Popova\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"William Nicholson","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58653042966863,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58653050700111,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58653050732879,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58653050765647,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58653050798415,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58653050831183,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58653050863951,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58653050896719,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58653050929487,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58653050962255,"sku":null,"price":225.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58653050995023,"sku":null,"price":225.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58653051027791,"sku":null,"price":225.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/The-Learned-Pig_Poster_CompositorV1_1788403021648.jpg?v=1788403449","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/products\/the-learned-pig-william-nicholson","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}