"sable antelope"

The sable antelope (Hippotragus niger) is one of the largest and most imposing African antelopes. The adult male is distinguished by a coat that darkens to near-black, contrasting with white facial markings, and by ringed horns that sweep back spectacularly, capable of exceeding one and a half metres. A species of the wooded savannahs of southern and eastern Africa, it lives in herds dominated by a territorial male.

The three-quarter view chosen here allows both the power of the chest and the full sweep of the horns to be shown. The proud gaze directed beyond the frame, and the swollen mane, confer on the animal a near-regal presence. The contours left as sketches around the body accentuate the impression that the sable antelope is emerging from the white of the paper rather than simply sitting upon it.