Tijgerkop 1874 - 1886

August Le Gras made this small etching, "Tijgerkop," or "Tiger Head," through a labor-intensive process of scratching lines into a metal plate, inking it, and pressing it onto paper. The print’s texture reveals the artist’s hand. Le Gras uses varied, closely-placed lines to model the tiger’s face and fur. Look closely, and you can see the subtle tonal gradations he achieved. This wasn't just about replicating an image; it was a crafted performance. In a time of industrialization, etching allowed artists to retain control over production. Each print pulled from the plate bears the mark of that initial, painstaking act of inscription. There's an intimacy here, a connection between artist, material, and subject. The tiger itself, a symbol of untamed nature, is here rendered through a deliberate, crafted process, highlighting the dialogue between nature and human artistry. Seeing the work, you’re invited to consider not just the image, but the labor and skill embedded within its very surface.