East Asia, Korea or Japanese, 18th to 19th century. Hand painted on buff paper, a dramatic depiction of an intimidating tiger in a dynamic pose. Attractive fabric trims of cream on gold and taupe on cream floral patterns serve as borders. Finally, the artist's signature stamp/chop are visible on the lower left. A special piece, perhaps inspired by a famous painting of a "Ferocious Tiger" created during the Joseon dynasty that is now in the National Museum of Korea. Traditionally, tigers have been featured in Korean art to fend off evil spirits. Size (painting): 15.625" L x 19" W (39.7 cm x 48.3 cm) Size (painting with border): 25.625" L x 23.1" W (65.1 cm x 58.7 cm)

An early 18th century Japanese painting of a tiger by the artist Meiso is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art - Accession Number 1986.171. The Met's description reads as follows, "The tiger has long been an auspicious symbol of power throughout Asia, in both popular culture and elite society. In East Asian art a tiger in a bamboo grove conveys the idea of a peaceful and harmonious society, strong leadership, and just government, as it is one of the few animals able to navigate the thick bamboo forest. With its almost whimsical treatment of the animal, this work resembles Korean tiger paintings of the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910); however, the loose, free brushwork is more characteristic of Japanese renditions of the subject. The artist, Meiso, was almost certainly a Japanese monk-painter. An eighteenth-century monk named ShitakuJunka, about whom little is known, composed the inscribed poem."

Provenance: private Ventura County, California, USA collection

#163498

Artist's signature stamp/chop visible on the lower left. Expected age wear with crease marks, darkening, and stains as shown. Painting and fabric border are attached to paper backing, and there is some separation between fabric and paper backing.