Italian pencil artist Marco Mazzoni‘s work goes far beyond technical perfection. His representation of historical healing women is enigmatic and sublime. Often leaving the eyes blank or covered with an abundance of birds, butterflies and flowers, he gives the impression of a deeper inward focused sight, as well as obscuring the identity of the individual. Many female healers in the past – both medicine woman and midwives – were brutally persecuted by religion, some even burnt as witches… Mazzoni’s work captures their deep connection with nature and their innate power and femininity with delicacy and beautiful detail.

The carcass of a yacare caiman lies in the dried-up river bed of the Pilcomayo river in Boqueron, Paraguay, August 14, 2016. In Paraguay, alongside the Pilcomayo River, black vultures flew over a shrinking pond where a group of crocodilian reptiles known as yacare caimans sought refuge. Water from the river, which divides Paraguay and Argentina in the area of the Gran Chaco, was scarce. This is not an uncommon sight in the region of General Diaz, about 700 kilometres (435 miles) northwest of the country's capital Asuncion, where the Pilcomayo's waters form lakes and streams that give life to capybaras, birds and caimans. (Photo by Jorge Adorno/Reuters)

Jaison Vargas, crocodile tour guide, takes a picture of an American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) during a tour at the Tarcoles river, in Tarcoles, Garabito municipality, Costa Rica, on March 31, 2022. Crocodile tours in the estuary of the Tarcoles River are a popular attraction for visitors to Costa Rica's Pacific coast, as the area gets back on its feet after being shaken by the pandemic. The river is home to nearly 500 species of birds and some 2,000 American crocodiles, many of which have been named after famous people. (Photo by Luis Acosta/AFP Photo)

“Happy Feet” the emperor penguin that washed up on the Kapiti Coast last week, undergoes a medical examination at Wellington Zoo on June 29, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand. The young penguin landed on NZ shores last week, after traveling over 3,000 kilometres from the antarctic. The ill penguin was operated on at Wellington Zoo several times this week to remove sand and sticks from it's stomach with hopes it will recover fully. A team of experts is likely to decide today, whether the bird will remain in captivity in New Zealand, or be transported back the the antarctic. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

A Galapagos Tortoise shell is used as a foot rest at Heathrow Airport's Animal Reception Centre on January 25, 2011 in London, England. Many animals pass through the centre's doors ranging from exotic animals such as snow leopards and elephants, snakes and crocodiles, to the more common such as cats and dogs. In 2010 alone the centre processed approximately 10,500 cats and dogs, 1,300 birds, 105,000 day old chicks, 246,000 reptiles, 230 horses and 29 million fish. Most animals are part of zoo transfer schemes, the pet trade, or are pets in transit. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

One of the nine baby flamingos born at Bristol Zoo stands with the adults as they feed together on August 19, 2011 in Bristol, England. Nine flamingo chicks have hatched at Bristol Zoo Gardens in the last three months – the biggest number the Zoo has ever had. The chicks, which are Greater Flamingoes from Africa and southern Europe and range in age from four weeks to three months old, take the Zoo's total flock to 38 birds. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)