Wild Horse Felled by a Tiger

Wild Horse Felled by a Tiger, executed by Eugène Delacroix in 1828, is a highly dramatic lithograph exemplifying the French Romantic movement's fascination with violence and the sublime power of nature. This masterful print utilizes the technique of chine collé, where a thin sheet of fine, prepared paper is adhered to a heavier support during printing. This method allowed Delacroix to achieve greater subtlety in tonal gradation and richer, velvety blacks, enhancing the expressive detail of the imagery. As the earliest of four recorded states, this impression currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art represents the initial published iteration of the artist's vision.

Delacroix, a key figure in French Romanticism, often focused on the subject of animal struggle, viewing the confrontation between horses and great cats as a profound expression of raw, untamed nature. The immediate and graphic violence depicted is characteristic of the movement's interest in dynamic action and emotional intensity. The composition captures the dynamic moment where the magnificent horse, a recurring symbol of freedom and chaos in Delacroix’s oeuvre, succumbs to the powerful tiger's sudden and fatal assault. The intricate detail afforded by the lithographic process emphasizes the textures of the animals’ coats and the inherent terror of the primal conflict.

As a prolific draftsman and painter, Delacroix frequently employed lithography to explore themes of exoticism and battle, achieving a visual fluidity often associated with his oil works. This piece demonstrates his exceptional skill in conveying movement and psychological tension through line work alone, establishing its importance within the history of 19th-century French prints.