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Leonard Baskin's surreal portraits combine the human and animal worlds to portray biblical, classical, and mythological themes. Baskin's interest in Greek mythology is reflected in his many sculptures and paintings of the Sibyl, a prophetic female from Greek mythology. His Sibyl works accompanied a book of poems by Ruth Fainlight.
Birds, especially predatory ones, were central to Baskin's work because of their various symbolic meanings. Here a bird (likely some species of hawk) is depicted as a supernatural entity, giving this work a surreal quality. The Sibyl and the bird become one, emphasizing the similarities of the two as outcasts of society or perhaps as predators. With the bird on the Sibyl's head, body and wings mimicking the Sibyl's hair, the bird could be the Sibyl's familiar companion and serve as a protector who offers guidance. Baskin's portraits emphasize the human condition - often malformed, exaggerated, and animal-like, giving us a lot to ponder.
