The fight for life 

Antonio Ligabue painted 'The Fight for Life' without specifying the date, probably during his artistic maturity using oil on canvas. The expressive intensity of this painting, featuring a jaguar in a threatening pose, connects to Ligabue's broader social and cultural context. Ligabue was an outsider artist living in rural Italy during the mid-20th century. His work often depicted wild animals in dramatic scenarios and his style combines elements of Expressionism with Art Brut. In 'The Fight for Life', the jaguar's snarling face and sharp claws convey a sense of danger and urgency. The thick brushstrokes and vibrant colors further enhance the emotional impact of the scene. Ligabue spent much of his life in psychiatric institutions, a factor that could be seen to have influenced his art, especially its raw emotionality. Understanding Ligabue's biography, and researching the socio-economic conditions of post-war Italy, enables us to interpret the wider meaning of his art.