John Bull vlucht voor de Indiaase tijger 1920 - 1935

Patricq Kroon created this drawing, "John Bull flees from the Indian tiger," using ink and watercolor. The eye is immediately drawn to the imposing tiger. It is centrally positioned and dominates the composition with its substantial form and meticulously rendered fur. The stark contrast between the dark lines defining the tiger’s stripes and the lighter washes that model its body creates a palpable sense of texture and volume. This contrast extends to the background, where a dark, semi-circular shape looms behind the tiger, acting as a visual anchor. Below, John Bull is depicted in frantic motion, attempting to escape the scene. Kroon uses line and scale to emphasize the power dynamic. The chains binding the tiger suggest a restrained force, building tension. The overall composition invites an interpretation of colonial power relations, where the formal elements of scale, contrast, and line work together to underscore themes of dominance, resistance, and the destabilization of established hierarchies.