Chadwick began in 1955 to explore the motif of the animal as a theme that would become iconic for his work in the group of "Beasts". Earlier that year, he had visited Mykonos and Delos, where he saw the ancient remains of the famous Lion Avenue of Delos, dating from the 6th century BC. The threatening posture of the animal figures and their weathered forms inspired him to create the first "Beasts".
Here, Chadwick created an archetypal form of an unspecified animal, which can be understood as the epitome of the living creature. The construction of the sculpture from basic stereometric forms based on a framework of lines is derived from Chadwick's training as an architect and is a legacy of Constructivism.
The filigree structure that can be felt in this way is further enhanced by the contrast between the taut, massive body and the slender legs on which the figure rests. This is what defines the sculpture's particular dynamic expression and creates an irritating ambiguity. The impression of strength and heaviness is confronted on the other hand with a certain lightness, whereby Chadwick stages an interplay between stability and instability.
