Indochinese Tiger, 1947

40” x 52”

Oil on canvas 2019

This painting is a reflection on a bit of Speakman family history dating back to 1947, outside of modern day Hanoi, Vietnam. This painting is the portrait dreamt up from the tiger skin from a large male Indochinese tiger that has been passed down to me. He was shot by my grandfather in 1947, and has become a relic of a complicated past and the catalyst for my own research into trophy hunting and the environmental consequences of such practices… Long story short.

This piece has spurred a long running series and fascination with tigers. You can see more under Illustrations