Ralph Slatton is a printmaker and educator at East Tennessee State University. This is one of his early prints that was based on an African motif, a stylized lion crushing the head of a snake. This is a icon that has appeared in several pieces and yet uses unconventional symbolism for Slatton. Slatton enjoys exploring ideas about the protective spirit or talisman. What this talisman references in his personal imagery is perhaps unclear. However, he often states that his work substitutes animal iconography for the foibles and successes of humanity. This concept is probably internalized in Slatton's case and if it holds general social commentary, it is especially applicable to his analysis of self. The powerful form of a lion spirit appears to vigilantly guard for some unknown goal. The animal holds the head of the snake, as a symbol of dominance over potential intruders. This piece utilizes the aquatint process and has diverse techniques, such as open bite and also marbling. These are often seen in Slatton's pieces, as a kind of signature style. He feels that the raw application of material help convey primitive emotion and an atmosphere of foreboding.
