Buffels door een tijger aangevallen 1868

Charles Verlat created this etching, titled 'Buffels door een tijger aangevallen' – 'Buffaloes attacked by a tiger' - employing stark monochrome to capture a violent encounter. The etching is a window into the 19th century European fascination with exotic colonial landscapes. This dynamic piece is evocative of the colonial narrative, which often portrayed nature as a site of conflict and the colonised world as dangerous. It represents the tiger as an aggressor, embodying the 'dark continent' trope that justified colonial intervention. The buffaloes, symbols of strength, are depicted as victims, which mirrors colonial exploitation. The image creates an emotional intensity: the buffalos’ distress is palpable, while the tiger's aggression simmers, revealing a power struggle. The emotional depth and visual drama of the work compel us to consider the legacies of colonialism and its impact on cultural perceptions.