La Chasse au Tigre (The Tiger Chase) (18th century, Met-Objekt 6521)
Original title: La Chasse au Tigre (The Tiger Chase)
kurzbeschreibung
Dating from the 18th century, this etching by Jean Jacques Flipart presents a dramatic hunt in a rocky landscape: mounted riders and a tiger lying on the ground dominate the action.
Description
Several riders sit astride their horses while a tiger lies in the foreground. At the center, one rider throws his arms upward; other horsemen are set in motion, some tumbling from their mounts. A cave and a palm tree close off the pictorial space. The arrangement feels restless: figures and horses scatter in different directions, modeled through the hatching and lines of the etching.
Context
In the 18th century, depictions of exotic hunts enjoyed great popularity in European art, and this print was made during that period. Flipart, a French graphic artist, was known chiefly for his reproductive engravings. As was common for prints of those years, the motif likely derives from a painting by another artist.
Impact
The unsettled layout and high-contrast hatching give the sheet a dense dramatic force. Falling riders and the central figure with raised arms create an atmosphere charged with tension.
Technique
The print was executed in a combination of etching, engraving, and drypoint. This method allows for fine lines and rich tonal values, which here serve to convey movement and light.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)