The Animal Laocöon 1796

Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein's 1796 etching "The Animal Laocoön" depicts a dramatic scene of a lion being constricted by a large snake. The scene likely draws inspiration from the famous sculpture "Laocoön and His Sons" where a Trojan priest and his sons are attacked by serpents. Tischbein was a German artist known for his Neoclassical style and his detailed engravings. The print is a powerful example of Tischbein's ability to create a sense of dynamic movement and to capture the raw power of the animal kingdom. The scene is set in a rocky, wooded landscape, suggesting the wildness and unpredictability of nature. The viewer is drawn to the lion's struggle, its fury and pain.