Young Tiger Playing with Its Mother, from "L'Artiste"

Young Tiger Playing with Its Mother, from "L'Artiste," created by Eugène Delacroix in 1831, is a powerful early example of Romantic animalier art and a masterful demonstration of the lithographic medium. The composition captures two large Tigers interacting playfully, contrasting the immense physical power of the exotic cats with a moment of maternal tenderness. Delacroix, a key figure in French Romanticism, was deeply fascinated by the energy and drama found in nature, frequently visiting the Parisian menageries to study these powerful creatures firsthand.

The work is executed as a lithograph on chine collé—a technique where a thin, delicate paper (the chine) is adhered to a heavier backing sheet during printing. This method allowed for the retention of minute detail and rich tonal contrasts essential to Delacroix's style. This particular impression is designated as the third state of six, illustrating the artist’s iterative process of refining the image before its final distribution. The intensity and textural quality achieved in the Tigers’ fur and musculature highlight Delacroix’s skill in using the print medium to convey dynamic movement and dramatic emotion.

Initially published for the influential Parisian periodical L’Artiste, this lithograph reflects Delacroix’s utilization of contemporary printmaking to share his artistic vision with a broader public. As a testament to the work's historical importance and artistic merit, it forms part of the significant collection of graphic arts held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This powerful print is often cited when discussing Delacroix's deep connection to the Romantic obsession with the sublime and the untamed natural world. Today, high-resolution images of this work are frequently available through public domain archives, ensuring continued study and appreciation of the master’s work.