Bob Kuhn (American, 1920-2007)

Kuhn described the inspiration for this painting, '"Burning bright, in the forests of the night" finishes the line by English poet William Blake. It's the painter's job, I believe, to evoke the essential character of the beasts he portrays. Some animals are pretty dovoid of lore; others are awash in it and the tiger is one of them. He has yielded to the world's dominant predator, grudgingly, inch by snarling inch. Ah, but consider the challenge and the pleasure of trying to capture the great cat's essence. It's a spur to me and to my continuing efforts to get it right.' (op. cit., p. 66).