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“Rhino With Passenger”
Day 26 of my yearlong artwork retrospective
The pen and ink drawing I offer to you today has had more than one title over the years. Another one is “Cruisin’ on the Rhino,” along with “Hitchhiking on the Rhino,” but I’m not really sure which I like better. It’s the rhino that matters most, not the snowy egret looking for tasty bugs on his back.
I must confess I don’t recall where I found my model, as it’s been a few years; probably a zoo, and it’s more likely a white rhino than a black one, judging by the shape of its ears. And all rhinos are grey! I read somewhere a group of rhinos is called a “crash” which seems entirely appropriate. While their vision is poor, they use their powerful sense of smell to guide them through their world. Meaning, if you encounter an angry rhino, it may or may not be a good idea to stand perfectly still in hopes it won’t see you. If the wind is in its favor, it may catch your scent!
“Rhino” in Greek means “nose,” and “keras” means “horn of an animal.” Now I wonder: how many ancient Greeks might have been able to gape at a rhino? Can you imagine loading an indignant rhino into your trireme to row across the Mediterranean to show the folks at home this astonishing creature? Of course, this massive animal goes by too many names to include here.
