Hidden faces IVa: The siren face of Old Man Willow
9 December 2021 | Beyond Bree, December, 2021, 8
Following the publication of Part One of my “Hidden faces” series, Nancy Bunting (Beyond Bree, July 2020) showed that Old Man Willow had a face too (left), which had been suggested already by Hammond and Scull in J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist & Illustrator. However, it has much more than that. It also seems to have a kind of humanoid body which is suggested by the shape of the trunk and the upraised branches, which are like arms. Do note the toes. (Right) Strangely, it even looks as if it has what looks like some sort of a backside! The whole Willow appears quite creepy, both literally and figuratively.…
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