Tiger c. 19th century

Curator: I’m really drawn in by this watercolor study, "Tiger," by Edwin Henry Landseer. There's something so immediate about it. Editor: The roar certainly commands attention. It makes me think about how tigers, as potent symbols of power, have been used across various cultures. Curator: Right, Landseer really captures that animalistic ferocity, but also a kind of vulnerable majesty in the tiger’s open mouth. I wonder what he was thinking, to capture that moment of raw power. Editor: Well, think about the Romantic era, when nature and its untamed aspects held such fascination. Tigers represented not just physical strength, but also the sublime, that feeling of awe mixed with fear. Curator: I agree, but it almost feels like a performance, doesn’t it? Like the tiger knows it’s being watched. Its symbolic value is being considered, even by itself. Editor: Yes! It’s a great reminder that images rarely exist in a vacuum. They’re loaded with cultural baggage, and this tiger's roar echoes through centuries of symbolism. Curator: I think I’m going to remember how it has this incredible animal force, but also this self-aware, almost human look. Editor: Me too! It’s a neat reminder of the layers of meaning woven into even the simplest image.