Tiger [left of the pair Dragon and Tiger] by Yamada Dōan

Tiger [left of the pair Dragon and Tiger] c. 16th century

ink-on-paper

toned paper

ink painting

pencil sketch

charcoal drawing

japan

ink-on-paper

charcoal art

fluid art

underpainting

tattoo art

pencil art

watercolor

"Tiger [left of the pair Dragon and Tiger]" is a striking six-panel screen painting by Yamada Dōan, a renowned Japanese artist from the 16th century. The screen, a large and imposing work, depicts a powerful tiger prowling through a bamboo forest, rendered in delicate ink washes and charcoal. The dynamic composition captures the tiger's energy and strength as it moves through its natural environment. The screen is a fine example of the expressive power of Japanese ink painting, and it exemplifies the artist's masterful command of line and tone.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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In traditional Chinese cosmology, the tiger and the dragon are two of four creatures associated with the cardinal directions (north, south, east, and west). The tiger is the emblem of the west, and the dragon, the east. In Zen Buddhism, however, the tiger came to be associated with the earthbound enlightened mind, and the dragon the soaring spirit of the freed, enlightened soul. Paired images of tigers and dragons are frequently encountered in Zen temples in Japan on pairs of screens or on sets of sliding-door paintings.