Artwork
Tigers and Leopard Frolicking
Tigers and Leopard Frolicking is an unspecified painting by the Baroque artist Unknown. It dates from 1704 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. A monochrome ink painting portrays a tiger and her cubs engaging in playful stalking amidst a group of pine trees.
- Accession no.
- 1998.292
- Credit line
- Gift of Leighton R. and Rosemarie Longhi
About this work
The painter signed it “The mountain recluse of Honam,” hinting they lived in Jeolla province.
You see a tiger and her cubs playing hide-and-seek among pine trees, all drawn in black ink.
In Korea’s Joseon era, tigers were believed to carry messages from mountain spirits. Artists often showed them with leopards, which people mistook for baby tigers. The painter signed it “The mountain recluse of Honam,” hinting they lived in Jeolla province.
To see more ink animals from this time, look up korea, joseon dynasty (1392–1910).
Overview
A monochrome ink painting portrays a tiger and her cubs engaging in playful stalking amidst a group of pine trees.
Subject & Meaning
The depiction of tigers, revered as messengers of mountain spirits in Joseon-era Korea, is commonly accompanied by leopards, which were often mistakenly identified as tiger cubs.
Technique & Style
Executed in black ink, the composition's visual elements rely on varying line weights and ink densities to convey texture and depth within a monochromatic palette.
History & Provenance
The painting bears the signature 'The mountain recluse of Honam', suggesting the artist may have originated from Jeolla province in Korea, though the exact date and artist's identity remain unspecified.
Context
Created during the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910), this work reflects the period's artistic and symbolic conventions, particularly in its representation of animals and natural settings.
Legacy
This painting exemplifies traditional Joseon-era ink animal depictions, with similar works from the time period available for comparison under the categories 'Korea' and 'Joseon Dynasty'.
Artist & collection
