Tijger en bliksem before 1915

Kobayashi Kiyochika created this woodblock print, ‘Tiger and Lightning,’ using muted greys to capture a powerful image. Notice the dynamic tension achieved by Kiyochika: the sharp diagonal lines of the lightning contrast dramatically with the tiger's bulky, grounded form. The artist uses a semiotic system of signs to amplify the underlying meanings. The tiger, traditionally a symbol of strength and courage, is depicted mid-roar, almost as if responding to the lightning's disruptive energy. This juxtaposition serves not only to capture a moment of natural drama, but also hints at larger cultural codes and anxieties about power and instability. Kiyochika masterfully balances visual impact with deeper symbolic communication. Consider how the composition, combined with the symbolic use of the tiger and lightning, destabilizes established meanings, creating an artwork that resonates with ongoing interpretation and re-interpretation.