Often, so that they cannot be easily seen, leopards will lower their noses so that they are concealed and the head shape is less obvious. I have placed the sunlit bare branches of the fig tree in front to help with the hiding. Of course, my real joy in doing this painting was to show the light glancing across the texture of the rock and to play with the forms and textures and warm colors. These, plus the tree and the leopard, speak to me of the soul of Africa. - RB