The Tigerskin 1889

John William Godward, a British painter, created this oil on canvas titled 'The Tigerskin'. At first glance, one might see a scene of classical leisure, but the social and cultural context is far more complex. Godward, working in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was part of a movement called Neoclassicism which harked back to the art of ancient Greece and Rome. Here, the tigerskin itself speaks volumes. In British society, the acquisition and display of exotic animal skins signaled imperial power and control over distant lands. Godward’s artistic choices, while seemingly innocuous, were deeply embedded in the imperial project. By examining letters, exhibition reviews, and colonial records, historians can reveal how these artworks participated in constructing and reinforcing social hierarchies. Art always reflects and shapes the values of its time.