Studies of a Lion's Paw; verso: Brief Sketch of Another Paw c. 1826

Curator: This is Eugène Delacroix's "Studies of a Lion's Paw; verso: Brief Sketch of Another Paw," located here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s wild. Almost like a blueprint, but for… power. The sharpness of those claws! Curator: The sketch's composition, though fragmented, offers insight into Delacroix’s engagement with animal anatomy. Note the careful attention to structure. Editor: Yeah, but beyond that it feels primal. Like a raw glimpse into the tools of a predator, unburdened by any kind of human sentimentalism. Curator: Indeed. The work presents an interesting study in the convergence of artistic observation and raw natural power. Editor: Exactly. And it makes you feel it in your own bones, doesn't it?