Untitled set of scrolls featuring a dragon and a tiger

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[Untitled set of scrolls featuring a dragon and a tiger]

Shōseki, Sanjin [Kose, Shōseki] [signed by].

[Japan, ca. Meiji period (1870-1910s?)]. In manuscript.

A dynamic rendering of a traditional tiger and dragon pairing. The tiger crouches on rocks surrounding a river while the dragon flies above tumultuous waves through menacing clouds. Just as the body of the dragon curls around to the top of the painting, the tiger's tail peeks around the rocks above it. When the scrolls are displayed together the tiger seems to glare up at the dragon, ready to defend itself if suddenly attacked. The ink flecked over the scene of the dragon is an interesting touch perhaps representing the spray of water from the surf or sheets of rain. The artist's signature reads Shōseki Sanjin 小石山人 and the seal may also read Shōseki 小石. Kose Shōseki (1843-1919), the last official member of the Kose School of painting, studied Japanese style painting under the artist Nakanishi Kōseki (1807-1884) and Nanga style painting under the artist Gōyama Hōyō (1824-1889). Together with Tomioka Tessai (1837-1924), Tanomura Chokunyū (1814-1907), and other artists he founded the Japan Nanga Academy in Kyoto in 1896.

Sandan hyōsō (three-layered) mountings. Pigments on silk. Left jiku (scroll-knob) of the tiger scroll loose. Light browning, creases, and marks to mountings and silk. Scrolls housed in original wooden box. Mountings measure approx. 191 x 42.8 cm each; illustrations on silk measure approx. 106.8 x 32.1 cm each.

Untitled set of scrolls featuring a dragon and a tiger
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