Studier af en løve 1798 - 1863

Here we see Eugène Delacroix's sketch, "Studies of a Lion," rendered with ink on paper. The lion, a symbol of courage and royalty, carries a rich, layered history. Observe how Delacroix captures the animal's raw power, the sinuous lines hinting at coiled energy. This echoes the lion motifs found throughout history, from the ancient Near East, where lions guarded temples and palaces, to heraldic emblems of European nobility. The lion, as a primal image, stirs something deep within us. Its roar, a reverberation of untamed nature, ignites our collective memories and subconscious fears. Consider how the lion reappears in different guises—Aslan in C.S. Lewis's tales, the Cowardly Lion in "The Wizard of Oz"—each reflecting evolving cultural anxieties and aspirations. Like a recurring dream, the lion's image surfaces again and again, its significance transformed, yet its primal energy forever resonant.