Lilian Swann Saarinen (American, 1912-1995), Pekingese Dogs at Play

Graphite on paper, signed at lower right "Lily Swann Saarinen," matted and framed under Plexiglass.

Sight size 6 3/4 x 9 1/2 in.; Frame dimensions 20 x 18 in.

Lilian Swann Saarinen was an American sculptor and illustrator best known for her animal drawings and public art. She studied sculpture with Carl Milles and attended the Art Students League in New York. Her artwork often featured expressive, carefully observed depictions of animals, which she drew from life at the Bronx Zoo and later at the St. Louis Zoo, where she created a series of murals and sculptures. These animal studies became a hallmark of her work and appeared in children's books she illustrated, such as Who Am I? and Picture Book Zoo. Saarinen also collaborated with her husband, architect Eero Saarinen, on several projects, contributing sculptural and decorative elements. In addition to her illustration and sculpture, she created architectural reliefs and public commissions, including work for the Crow Island School and the U.S. Embassy in London. Her art combined a strong sense of structure with a deep interest in natural forms and animal behavior.

Soft cockling to sheet; not examined out of the frame. Some scratches to Plexiglass.