Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein
1796
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
The Animal Laocöon is a 1796 ink by Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows a tangled mess of animals in a dark, rocky space. A lion’s head juts forward, its mouth open wide. Snakes coil around its body and a small dog lies nearby, looking small and helpless. The background is full of twisted vines and sharp rocks, making everything feel cramped and wild. The artist packed a lot of drama into the scene—every creature seems trapped or struggling. The dark lines and rough textures make it feel intense, like something out of a nightmare. If you like this style, check out etching to see how artists create these detailed prints.
Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein, known as the Goethe Tischbein (15 February 1751 – 26 June 1829), was a German painter from the Tischbein family of artists.
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