Reiter kämpfen mit einem Tiger 

Stefano della Bella sketched "Riders Fighting a Tiger" with pen and brown ink, capturing a scene brimming with primal struggle. Here, the tiger, a motif stretching back to ancient Persia, embodies untamed ferocity. Consider how this symbol of raw power appears in Delacroix's tiger hunts, where the animal is rendered with both awe and predatory intent. This echoes through time, from the gladiatorial combats of Rome, where exotic beasts were pitted against man, to contemporary cultural expressions. The rearing horses and flailing riders, locked in mortal combat, evoke the Laocoön group, embodying human suffering and helplessness against overwhelming forces. The emotional intensity is palpable, drawing us into this age-old drama of man versus nature, courage versus instinct. Thus, the tiger, ever-present, resurfaces as a potent reminder of the dark, chaotic forces that persist, a cycle of fear and fascination that continues to shape our cultural narrative.