明窓筆 虎図|Tiger
early 18th century
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
30 5/8 x 13 3/8 in. (77.8 x 34 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 1986
Accession Number
1986.171
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the tranquil world of Edo-period Japan (1615–8), the hanging scroll *Tiger* by the artist Meisō captures the fierce majesty of its subject with masterful strokes of ink and color on paper. Created in the early 18th century, work measures 30 5/8 x 13 3/8 inches and exemplifies the refined tradition of Japanese scroll painting. Hanging scrolls like this were prized possessions, unrolled for special occasions to adorn a tokonoma alcove, blending artistry with seasonal display. Tigers held profound cultural symbolism in Japan, evoking power, protection, and the wild spirit of autumn, despite n...