(Fan and a tiger) c. 1842 - 1866

This ink on paper work, "Fan and a tiger", was created by Hanzan Matsukawa, in the 19th century. At first glance, the composition may appear unbalanced, almost whimsical. A partial view of a tiger's head and a folding fan dominate the scene, but it is the elegant calligraphy which covers the fan's surface which draws our attention. The writing seems to cascade across the fan, with each brushstroke varying in weight, creating a textured rhythm across the plane. The juxtaposition of the fierce tiger, reduced to a mere fragment, against the delicate fan creates a tension. The fan, traditionally associated with refinement, becomes a canvas for both the wild and the cultured. This destabilization of expected roles allows us to explore deeper questions about the relationship between nature and artifice, strength and fragility, and the balance between chaos and order.