Tijger 1890

Henri-Charles Guérard made this print called "Tijger," or Tiger, using etching techniques. At first glance, the image may strike you with its stark contrast: a tiger's head rendered in near-white against a dark, textured background. Guérard's print employs a striking economy of line and tone. He reduces the tiger to its essential forms, a play of light and shadow that captures the animal's powerful presence. See how the artist uses dense, short strokes to define the tiger's features—the intense eyes, the furrowed brow, and the muscular jawline? This technique not only models the form but also evokes the texture of fur and the raw energy of the subject. Guérard's use of monochromatic tones flattens the image, pushing it towards abstraction. Yet, the strategic use of light to define form pulls it back into legibility. The tiger emerges from the darkness not as a mere representation, but as a symbol, embodying nature's primal forces through the sheer manipulation of line and tone.