This simple and attractive portrait of a lion is framed with a suitable frame to bring out the painting's origins. The painting uses only one colour in different tones.
Until recently, I was not aware that there exists a subspecies of Lion from Asia. It is aptly named the Asiatic Lion, although there are only around 500 individuals left in the wild. We are more familiar with the African Lion, the species mostly promoted in books, illustrations and documentaries. Once, lions roamed most of the lands that covered Africa, all the way up to southern Asia and possibly western Europe.
Human encroachment has caused so much habitat loss, that they are now sporadically distributed throughout Africa. Even farmers who are aware of so few numbers are intolerant to attacks on their cattle, from lions who have a taste for succulent meat.