Crouching Tiger 1839

Curator: Here we have "Crouching Tiger," an ink drawing executed by Eugène Delacroix in 1839. Editor: Immediately striking is the tension in the animal's pose; it's a study in contained energy. The tiger seems both poised and threatening, a creature right on the verge of action. Curator: Delacroix, working within the Romantic tradition, was fascinated by the power of nature, especially when expressed through animal subjects. The menagerie at the Jardin des Plantes in Paris provided inspiration for much of his animal depictions. Editor: Considering the Romantic fascination with the sublime, one can see this image as tapping into an orientalist vision that positioned exotic creatures as a kind of challenge to enlightenment ideas of progress, class and identity, pushing the boundaries between "civilization" and nature. I'm curious to know how such images might resonate with discourses around colonialism in the 19th century, Curator: Absolutely, and Delacroix himself traveled to North Africa. What is fascinating here, if we examine this through that lens, is that it is the intensity and not the realism of this crouched figure that draws you in. The rapid, loose lines really contribute to the energy that pulses through the image. He prioritized that impact, even at the cost of scientific accuracy. It's less about scientific study and more about evoking feeling. Editor: Yes, I see that prioritisation of emotional impact, but I would hesitate to interpret the expressive style only in opposition to 'scientific study' . The expressiveness of this style contributes to the creation of a symbolic animal which could promote dehumanisation when deployed within a colonial context. It serves to define power dynamics and reinforce perceptions of who or what are to be viewed as threats to an 'established' status quo. The rapidness conveys raw, untamed ferocity. Curator: A perspective that underscores the crucial interplay between the observer and the observed, an effect achieved so well in this single sheet. Editor: Delacroix invites us to reflect on our relationships with the world beyond ourselves, and on art's role within such considerations.