1860
ink
paper
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
Dominant colour
「今昔未見 生物猛虎之真図」|Never Seen Before: True Picture of a Live Wild Tiger (Konjaku miken, Ikimono mōko no shinzu) is a 1860 ink by Kawanabe Kyōsai 河鍋暁斎, a Impressionism work, depicting Rooster, held at Metropolitan Museum of Art.
This print shows a tiger crouched low, its mouth open wide as if roaring. Behind it, a rooster perches on a windowsill, looking calm. The tiger’s fur is detailed with black spots, and its claws are sharp. A scroll with Japanese writing hangs on the wall, and a red sign stands to the right. The tiger’s fierce pose contrasts with the rooster’s stillness, creating a surprising scene. This print was made in 1860 using woodblock printing, a traditional Japanese method. Look up Kawanabe Kyōsai to see more of his bold, expressive animal prints.
Kawanabe Kyōsai (河鍋 暁斎; May 18, 1831 – April 26, 1889) was a Japanese painter and caricaturist. In the words of art historian Timothy Clark, "an individualist and an independent, perhaps the last virtuoso in traditional Japanese painting".
See the richer artist page
