BIRDS IN THE CATACOMB, 1972

This small work is a sweet image of three hatchlings just liberated from their eggs.

The suggestion of catacombs is one of Washington's many references to religious subject matter. Like all of his work, it's carved bas-relief into very hard stone, in this case granite. The title is carved into the original wood base.

As is typical of Washington's work, this bas-relief is carved into extremely hard and unforgiving stone. The combination of nature and religion expressed in the title is evocative and satisfying.