Performing Tiger 1934

This is a lithograph print, made by John Steuart Curry, called Performing Tiger. The processes involved in lithography give this image a distinctive look and feel. The image is composed by drawing with a greasy crayon onto a flat stone or metal plate, which is then treated so that only the drawn areas will hold ink. When printed, the crayon marks create soft, granular lines. Look closely, and you'll see how Curry uses this technique to create a sense of depth and texture, from the tiger’s fur to the rough-hewn wooden blocks of the circus stage. The contrast between light and shadow is stark, emphasizing the inherent qualities of the medium. Curry was part of the Regionalist movement, which often depicted scenes of everyday American life. Here, he turns his attention to the circus, a form of entertainment that was popular but also relied on the exploitation of both human and animal performers. By focusing on the labor involved – the trainer’s effort and the tiger’s forced performance – Curry hints at the complex social and economic forces at play in this seemingly simple scene.