Leopard with tapir 

Antonio Ligabue's painting presents us with a primal scene: a leopard attacking a tapir amidst a dense, vibrant jungle. The leopard, a symbol of cunning and ferocity, has been depicted since antiquity. From the Dionysian rites, where its skin signified ecstatic release, to its presence in heraldry as a symbol of military prowess, the leopard embodies raw power. Here, it is frozen in a moment of predatory action, its spotted coat blending with the foliage, a visual metaphor for its instinctual nature. The image is deeply disturbing. The collective memory of such scenes is rooted in humanity's ancient fears. Ligabue’s intense, agitated brushstrokes convey an emotional charge, evoking the subconscious anxieties tied to survival and the natural world's inherent violence. The painting becomes a stage for these primal dramas, engaging us on a visceral level that bypasses rational thought. The predator-prey dynamic is a recurring motif throughout art history, constantly resurfacing to mirror the complex interplay between aggression and vulnerability, fear and dominance.