This image was inspired by a Persian manual on kidnapping cubs, which instructs poachers to toss glass orbs at the mother tiger as they race away on horseback. Seeing her reflection in the balls, the tigress is tricked into thinking her babies are trapped inside and halts her pursuit.
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Walton Ford (b. 1960)Study 2 for “The Tigress,” 2013Graphite on sketchbook pageThe Morgan Library & Museum, gift of the artist, 2019.244. © 2024 Walton Ford. Photography by Janny Chiu.
This kind of knowledge always makes me wonder who figured it out and how. The learning curve in this case might have some downsides.