Royal Tiger 1829

Editor: This is Eugène Delacroix's "Royal Tiger" from the Harvard Art Museums. I'm struck by the tiger’s gaze, it feels both regal and vulnerable. What narratives do you think Delacroix is exploring here? Curator: I see a commentary on colonialism. Delacroix, a Romantic painter, positions the tiger, a symbol of Eastern power and mystique, in a state of repose, perhaps alluding to the shifting power dynamics of the 19th century. The image invites questions about who gets to define "royalty" and on whose land this tiger rests. What do you make of the animal's posture? Editor: It seems to be resting, but its eyes are wide open. Curator: Exactly. Is it vigilance, or a deeper anxiety about its changing world? The tiger, as a symbol, is caught between romantic exoticism and the brutal reality of imperial expansion. Delacroix challenges us to consider the ethical dimensions of these power imbalances. Editor: That’s a powerful perspective. It makes me rethink my initial reaction to the work. Curator: Art allows us to see history anew, doesn't it?