Chinese Lion 1700 - 1733

"Chinese Lion" (1700-1733) is a hanging scroll by the Japanese artist Yokoya Sōmin (1669-1733). This ink-on-paper artwork, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, depicts a powerful and majestic lion, a symbol of strength and protection in both Chinese and Japanese cultures. The scroll's minimalist composition with the lion placed prominently on the off-white background, exemplifies the artist's mastery of negative space and his ability to capture the essence of his subject with few strokes. This painting is a testament to Sōmin's skill in using a brush and ink, and it exemplifies the artistic styles of the Edo period.