FIGURE FACING FRONT ON TIGER 

Editor: So, here we have "Figure Facing Front on Tiger" by Teisai Hokuba. The figure’s stern expression is quite striking. What do you make of the formal composition, particularly the figure's placement on the tiger? Curator: Note how the artist uses the tiger not just as a mount, but as a grounding element. The rigid, frontal view of both the figure and the tiger emphasizes symmetry, a formal choice that projects power and stability. See how the patterned robe contrasts with the tiger’s stripes? Editor: I see the contrast now! The figure does seem more imposing because of the tiger, and the textile patterns. I hadn't considered how those choices build meaning. Thanks! Curator: Precisely. It’s through observing these formal elements that we can begin to decode the work's visual language.