A Lioness and a Caricature of Ingres c. 1850s

Curator: The immediate impression I get from this ink drawing on paper is a feeling of playful aggression. The exaggerated features, particularly of the lioness, give it a slightly menacing, but ultimately humorous quality. Editor: That’s an astute reading. What we’re looking at here is "A Lioness and a Caricature of Ingres," dating back to the 1850s and rendered by Eugène Delacroix. He clearly saw the lioness as a fitting vehicle to playfully critique, perhaps even lampoon, his artistic rival. Curator: The animal itself certainly has a dual reading here, it looks almost like a heraldic device, yet simultaneously it’s rendered with so much freedom that it feels as though Delacroix is freeing himself from the rigid confines of artistic tradition by using such bold, free lines. Editor: Exactly! This caricature resonates powerfully. Look at the implied power of the lioness in contrast with the tiny figure further back in the image; that seems to be another of Delacroix’s satirical digs. The Romantic movement championed emotion and individuality and was set against academic classicism, perhaps symbolized by the unfortunate Ingres. Curator: There is certainly an oppositional element to it, as if Delacroix is questioning Ingres’s authority. You see, Ingres’s Neoclassical focus, with its emphasis on precision and order, represents a very different visual language to the passionate and expressive art of Delacroix. The choice of a lioness, a symbol of strength and primal power, as the vehicle for his critique is just inspired. Editor: Indeed! By associating Ingres with this slightly absurd, slightly diminished figure, Delacroix seems to undermine his artistic legacy. It is as if Delacroix used the symbolic weight of this beast to rewrite artistic rules. Curator: It is a really telling example of how artistic rivalry can fuel some potent and compelling imagery. Editor: Absolutely, and understanding that artistic and social dynamic allows us a much richer experience of this artwork, more than just seeing a drawing.