Study for "Surprise" (Battle of the Tigers)
1865
graphite
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
François-Nicolas Chifflart
François-Nicolas Chifflart (1860–1870) was an artist.
See the richer artist page1865
graphite
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Study for "Surprise" (Battle of the Tigers) is a 1865 graphite by François-Nicolas Chifflart, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a tangled mess of bodies and limbs—people and animals locked in a chaotic struggle. The lines are loose and hurried, like quick scribbles caught in motion. The paper is a dull gray-blue, and the graphite lines stand out against it, making the scene feel rough and urgent. The artist used thin, sketchy strokes instead of smooth shading, which gives it a raw, unfinished look. This was likely a practice drawing for a bigger painting. Next, check out Realism to see how artists like this one focused on everyday (or wild) moments.
François-Nicolas Chifflart (1860–1870) was an artist.
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