Brullende tijger 1900 - 1945

This is "Roaring Tiger" by Ohara Koson, made with woodblock print. What's striking is the monochromatic palette, almost entirely shades of grey, allowing all attention to be focused on the pose and expression of the tiger. You can see how the woodblock printing technique lends itself to an economy of line and a softness of tone, everything is simplified and reduced to its essence. The curve of the moon echoes the curve of the tiger’s back, and in contrast with the moon’s stillness, the tiger’s roar shows a moment of pure energy, emphasized by the sharp, controlled lines of his teeth and fur. Then there are the subtle gradations of colour, creating a sense of depth and volume, like the whole image is emerging from mist. This feels very similar to the work of Hokusai, but with a slightly more modern sensibility. It's like Koson is asking us: what does it mean to capture the spirit of a tiger, not just its image, but its roar, its power, its place in the world?