Leopard 1955

Antonio Ligabue's painting of a leopard in a jungle, likely made mid-century, is all about this wild animal bursting with energy. Ligabue is so good at mark-making; it's about getting the essence down, not making everything perfect. The painting's got this great, almost flat, surface, but the textures are all there. See how he layers those little dots and dashes for the leopard's spots? It's not just decoration; it's how he builds up the form, the muscles rippling beneath that patterned skin. Then, look at the face, those teeth bared, those clawing paws; he's getting at something primal. Ligabue reminds me of Henri Rousseau, another painter who conjured wild places from his imagination. Both show us that art doesn't need to be realistic to be true; it just needs to be felt.