Tiger and Dragon , 1781
Maruyama Okyo (1733-95)
Japanese, Edo period
Ink, color, and gold on paper screens
Founders Society Purchase with funds from various contributors
81.693

The tiger is believed to repel evil, while the dragon attracts good fortune. The compound images of the tiger conjuring up the wind and the dragon rising from the crested waves to summon billowing clouds have been the subject of paired paintings by masters of Chinese and Japanese art since the 12^th century. Okyo's screens continue the lineage of imminent artists contributing to this tradition. Okyo renders both animals in extraordinary detail, with controlled brushwork giving a rich, soft texture to the tiger's pelt, while moist scales and vapors lightly washed with gold impart a reptilian feeling to the dragon.