Lion Devouring a Horse

Lion Devouring a Horse is a powerful lithograph created by Eugène Delacroix in 1844. As a foundational figure of the Romantic movement, Delacroix often explored dramatic and violent themes, utilizing the medium of prints to disseminate his vision. This particular impression is designated as the third state of five, indicating the artist’s careful, iterative process of working the stone to achieve the final tonality and detailed line work inherent in lithography.

The subject matter vividly captures a ferocious natural conflict: a massive lion sinks its claws and teeth into the struggling body of a horse. Delacroix masterfully uses the high-contrast capabilities of the print medium to emphasize the intensity of the struggle. The violent yet dynamic interaction between the central Lions and the frantic Horses were central to the Romantic sensibility, reflecting the period's fascination with the sublime and untamed nature. Delacroix derived inspiration for his exotic, action-filled compositions from the sketches he made during his influential trip to North Africa in the early 1830s.

This exceptional example of Delacroix's graphic work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The piece is recognized as a key document in the artist's engagement with animal conflict iconography. Because of its age and cultural significance, the underlying imagery and many high-quality prints of Lion Devouring a Horse are frequently available today through public domain initiatives, ensuring widespread access to this important Romantic-era work. The final prints remain some of the most recognizable examples of 19th-century French prints exploring visceral and dramatic themes.