Tigre dans les jungles (Tiger in the Jungle) 1893

Paul Ranson created "Tiger in the Jungle" as a color lithograph, a printmaking technique that allows for flat planes of color. Ranson was one of the founders of Les Nabis, a group of Post-Impressionist avant-garde artists who embraced spirituality, symbolism and decorative qualities in their art. Here, the tiger embodies a symbol of untamed nature, evoking both fascination and fear. Ranson lived in a time of rapid social change and a growing interest in non-Western cultures. The exotic "jungle" setting reflects a European fascination with the "Orient," filtered through the lens of colonialism. The flattened perspective and bold colors create a dreamlike quality that invites us to explore the boundaries between reality and imagination, and between the human and natural worlds. This lithograph urges us to consider our own relationship to the wild, both within ourselves and in the world around us.