1878
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Aigle Liant un Lièvre (An Eagle Pouncing on a Hare) is a 1878 ink by Léon Bonnat, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This painting depicts a dramatic scene of an eagle pouncing on a hare. The eagle, with its wings spread wide, is in mid-air, its talons outstretched towards the hare. The hare, seemingly unaware of the impending danger, is shown in a state of calm, its ears perked up and its eyes fixed on something in the distance. The background of the painting is a soft, muted color, which serves to highlight the contrast between the eagle's dark feathers and the hare's lighter fur. The overall effect is one of tension and drama, as if the viewer is witnessing a moment of intense action. The use of chiaroscuro in this painting adds depth and dimensionality to the scene, drawing the viewer's eye to the central action. For more information on this technique, look up chiaroscuro.
Léon Joseph Florentin Bonnat (French pronunciation: ; 20 June 1833 – 8 September 1922) was a French painter, Grand Officer of the Légion d'honneur, art collector and professor at the Ecole des Beaux Arts.
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