Wounded Lioness 1840 - 1850

Pierre Andrieu painted this oil on canvas, *Wounded Lioness*, sometime in the 19th century. Look at the lioness, wounded and panting, drinking thirstily from the stream. This echoes motifs of suffering and vulnerability that span millennia, think of the Dying Gaul, a Hellenistic sculpture depicting a wounded warrior, or Saint Sebastian pierced by arrows. Here, the lioness, a symbol of power, is humbled. The image evokes empathy, tapping into our shared understanding of pain. The depiction of animals and humans in distress can be traced back to ancient art, serving as a reminder of mortality. The power of this image lies in its ability to engage the viewer on a visceral level. It's a primal connection to the fragility of life. The lioness reminds us that these symbols are not static; they are constantly reinterpreted, carrying echoes of the past into the present.