Le lion amoureux c. 1881

Gustave Moreau made this watercolor painting of a woman with a lion sometime in the 19th century. In it we see a naked woman draped in red, with a lion by her side, in a lush forest scene. The lion looks up at the woman with an expression that can only be described as love. Moreau was working in France at a time of great social upheaval, when older conservative institutions like the monarchy and the church were being questioned. This painting can be understood in the context of debates over the role of women, the rise of mass society, and the relationship between humans and animals. This painting suggests a different kind of relationship between humans and nature, one not of domination, but of harmony. The image also asks us to consider the politics of beauty. What is the public role of art in shaping our perceptions and beliefs? To understand that, we can research the history of art institutions. We can delve into archives to better understand the meanings that this painting may have held for the people of its time. The meaning of art, after all, is contingent on social and institutional context.