Millet – Tiger

P. E. Millet

(France, early 20th century)

TIGER

Executed in 1937

Charcoal and gouache on paper

64 x 93 cm

Signed and dated lower left: P. E. MILLET 37

Athletically trained, muscular and broad-chested, Millet's tiger confronts us in this large-format drawing. It is meant to impress, and it succeeds. Millet drew his virile alpha male in 1937. The few other signed works (also tigers) known to have been created by him were also produced in the 1930s. Stylistically, the tiger belongs to the Art Deco predator paintings of the 1920s/30s and is reminiscent of Paul Jouve's and Jean Royer's supple panthers. Although he signed his work clearly, we know virtually nothing about P. E. Millet, not even his first name. He is one of the great unknowns of art history and has not yet made it into any artist encyclopaedia. It can be assumed that he worked mainly as an illustrator and interior decorator. The tiger can easily be imagined in a cool, elegant and exquisite Art Deco setting. It is possible that there was also an oil version, which, in keeping with the tastes of the time, may have been painted on a gold or lacquer background.

The painting can easily compete with drawings by Paul Jouve, but is available at a significantly lower price.