I was inspired by the painting of Forest Fire (Boschbrand) by Raden Saleh because it shows the raw, intense power of nature in ways which are both beautiful and thoughtful. The main animal incorporated in the painting is a tiger and since I am Hindu tigers are a great part of our religion. Generating numbers, I thought about further, personal and direct links - tigers and my religion, colours and their symbolism, how could I incorporate it in my painting? There was a lot of historical context about the artist and why he chose to paint this. From how the western techniques were influenced into how simple and beautiful the landscapes of south east Asia are.

Reasons why this fire could start and how there are very few tigers left which made me choose the significance of the number 402 because in the world there are 402 Sumatran tigers left (as of 2024). Humans are often responsible for causing forest fires, whether through carelessness, burning for agriculture, or climate change. This can serve as a reminder of how people’s actions affect the environment. Just as a fire can damage a forest, human activities can harm the planet. It highlights the need for awareness and responsibility to prevent further destruction, not just of forests but of all ecosystems.

Just like a forest fire can destroy the trees and plants, people also face moments in life where things feel like they’re falling apart—whether it's challenges, loss, or tough situations. However,fires can also help build up the forest by clearing out dead plants and allowing new growth. People too can experience personal growth after rough times. The fire can symbolize how, after difficult times, there can be restart and fresh beginnings, just like how the forest recovers over time.

Relations with the tiger- the Tigers God was offered by gods to serve the goddess Durga, as a mount for rewarding her victory. There are 8 specific colors which symbolises the goddess: orange, red, blue, green, yellow, pink, white and grey. The use of Color of the fiery red and oranges shows the importance of the destruction of the blaze. While the contrasting of dark shadows in the background and in the atmosphere bring to mind the lost sense of danger. The dramatic scorching of fire also emphasises the concept of nature that we, as humans, often feel drawn to. A forest fire shows how nature can be incredibly powerful and uncontrollable. Similarly, people sometimes face situations that are beyond their control. Just as we can't always prevent or stop a forest fire, humans can’t always control everything that happens to them. nature finds a way to bounce back after a fire.

What stands out the most to me is the black eye in the center of my piece as it symbolises the fierce and sharp eyes the tigers can have. Challenges I faced was planning where everything would be as empty space would have an impact too. The types of contrasting colors and concepts I used were challenging as it would show and describe my understanding of the painting. Success was making what I imagined and how I went over and over on what would look good where. I am pleased with my outcome.