Wild Horse Brought Down by a Tiger

The dramatic 1828 lithograph, Wild Horse Brought Down by a Tiger, was created by the pivotal French Romantic master, Eugène Delacroix French, 1798-1863. This powerful work is classified as a fine art print, utilizing the relatively new technique of lithography to achieve deep contrast and textural subtlety. The print was executed in black ink on delicate light gray China paper, a material prized for its smooth surface quality, which was subsequently laid down on a sturdier sheet of white wove paper for stability.

Delacroix was profoundly drawn to scenes of violent struggle and exotic subjects, themes characteristic of the Romantic movement flourishing in France during this period. Unlike classical artists who sought rational balance, Delacroix reveled in depicting raw emotion and the untamed power of nature. The composition focuses on a moment of primal, terrifying force, where the relentless energy of the tiger is brutally exerted upon the frantic, collapsing horse.

Delacroix’s mastery of the graphic medium is evident in the dynamic line work and the striking use of light and shadow, which heightens the emotional intensity of the confrontation. The artist utilized the tonal possibilities unique to lithography to define the animals’ musculature and capture the chaotic movement, placing this piece among his most successful ventures outside of oil painting. This specific example of the artist's printmaking legacy is held within the esteemed permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Dating from a time when the print medium was revolutionizing artistic reproduction across 19th-century Europe, the availability of high-quality examples ensures that this key work of French Romanticism continues to inform scholarly study and enters the public domain for wider appreciation.