“Shh, it’s a Tiger!”, Siberian Tiger, ‘In Homage to the Last Great Carnivores of Eurasia’, 2013, black Biro drawing by Jane Lee McCracken
As part of my china and print series ‘In Homage to the Last Great Carnivores of Eurasia’ the first Biro drawing in the Siberian Tiger diptych was inspired by two things – a drawing by an old master and an iconic image of India.
‘Landscape with a Woodland Pool’, Albrecht Dürer, 1496
The synonymous image of a Royal Bengal tiger bathing in a pool in Ranthambore National Park, India with its majestic ruined palaces, was the basis for my Russian fantasy of the Siberian tiger. Albrecht Dürer’s beautiful and beguiling drawing ‘Landscape with a Woodland Pool’ 1496, a photograph of a forest pool in Ussuriland and Ivan Shishkin’s painting, ‘The Forest of Countess Mordvinova’, 1891, form the inspiration for the background drawing layers, creating the fantastical setting for a bathing Siberian Tiger.
‘Countess Mordvinov’s Forest (Лес графини Мордвиновой)’, Ivan Shishkin, 1891, Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia
At the edge of the lake sits a Dacha birdcage from my own collection. Reclining inside is a Siberian tiger, further suggesting the image of Royal Bengal tigers shading inside Indian palaces but also indicating the thousands of tigers kept in captivity in comparison with so few remaining wild tigers. A giant Siberian tiger sweeps through the forest background, emulating the Udege and Nanai name for the tiger “Amba”, ‘Guardian of the Forest’. Breaking through the forest is a cavalry of Red Army soldiers symbolising the devastation wreaked on the Siberian Tiger population, which was almost extinguished by both Red and White Armies around Vladivostok during the Russian Revolution.
‘Shh, it’s a Tiger!’, luxury fine English china plate by Jane Lee McCracken
On the right walks a tiger beside an Udege woman from a still photograph I took of ‘Amba the Russian Tiger‘, 2008, Gordon Buchanan, proclaiming the fragility of not only the tiger population but the indigenous people of Ussuriland. The tiger in the pool looks beyond a sniper rifle hidden in the foliage, outside the picture towards ‘Bang!’ the second drawing in the Siberian Tiger diptych. A skull with a bullet hole depicted in ‘Bang!’ indicates what the tiger in the pool is watching, a tiger hunt!
‘In Homage to the Last Great Carnivores of Eurasia’, Luxury Fine English China Plate Series by Jane Lee McCracken
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‘Shh, it’s a Tiger!’, Archival Pigment Print
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Jane Lee McCracken, Artist 
I am blown away everytime I see your work Jane. This one is so intricate it’s mind boggling!
Aw thank Kirsten for your lovely words! Glad you like it xx
A fine piece, and best examined in zoom mode. I was amazed at how you managed to incorporate the very recognisable head-gear of Civil War Red Cavalry. I have seen these hats in museums, and on filmed documentaries, and they are perfectly rendered. The tigers and the house also show incredibly fine attention to detail.
Another great example of your meticulous work Jane.
Best wishes from Norfolk, Pete.
Thank you so much Pete, what a lovely comment! I’m so pleased to hear you’ve enjoyed this piece it took 2 months go make. I took a still of the film ‘The Red and the White’ by Miklos Jancso for the cavalry and delighted to hear you feel I’ve captured the head gear. There are some super documentaries too of revolution cavalry. Have a good day Pete and thank you again. Best wishes from the north, Jane
Aha! The Red and The White. I did a short review of that film on my blog. Here’s a link;http://beetleypete.wordpress.com/2013/01/23/some-east-european-films/
Best wishes from Beetley, Pete.
Ah, brilliant Pete, thank you! Look forward to reading that – many thanks! It’s a great film. I’ve used it as reference in a couple of pieces now. Thanks again for the link Pete – best wishes, Jane