A Lion and a Tiger, Fighting 1849 - 1859

This pencil drawing by Eugène Delacroix, created between 1849 and 1859, depicts a fierce battle between a lion and a tiger. The animals are locked in a struggle, their bodies intertwined in a tangle of claws and teeth. Delacroix’s dynamic composition and the expressive details of the animals' musculature capture the raw power and intensity of this primal conflict. The artwork, which is now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, provides a glimpse into Delacroix's fascination with the natural world and his ability to translate its power into art.