Tiger 1735 - 1765

Curator: Let's take a look at this work, dating roughly from 1735 to 1765, simply titled, *Tiger.* It's a hanging scroll using ink and color on paper, and we attribute it to the artist Yūhi. Editor: My first thought is those startling blue eyes. It feels almost playful, rather than fierce, doesn't it? The pose is so…contained. Curator: Well, in Japanese art, the tiger is often a symbol of power, courage, and protection. It's tied to specific astrological periods too, taking on all that symbolic weight. Notice how Yūhi has rendered the stripes – they almost feel calligraphic, don’t they? Not just descriptive, but carrying a certain energy. Editor: I agree. The stripes feel… almost like brushstrokes of intention. It reminds me of how a composer might arrange notes – each stripe contributing to the overall feeling, which, to me, is more about alertness than aggression. Plus, those paws! They’re enormous and quite detailed. Curator: Tigers were powerful symbols for warriors and samurai, representing strength, loyalty, and fearlessness. These were all important in society, which projected these associations onto images such as this one. Editor: Perhaps that alertness comes from being vigilant and aware in that context. It is an arresting image. The expression almost teeters between wise contemplation and cartoonish surprise. Maybe it has simply seen something just off to the left we cannot. Curator: The ambiguity is definitely part of its charm. The artist blends observation and cultural meaning in a compelling way. It makes one think about what characteristics we assign to animals and why. Editor: Precisely! Are we seeing the tiger, or our projections about it? Or about ourselves? I like it when art gets me wondering in that way.