Artwork

「広影写生両国の虎」|“The Tiger of Ryōkoku,” from the series True Scenes by Hirokage

「広影写生両国の虎」|“The Tiger of Ryōkoku,” from the series True Scenes by Hirokage is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Utagawa Hirokage. It dates from 8 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

This woodblock print, titled 'The Tiger of Ryōgoku,' is part of the series 'True Scenes' by Utagawa Hirokage. Created using ink and color on paper, it is held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a tiger's head and a rooster facing each other, with the tiger's eye glowing and the rooster's feathers flared. The contrast between the tiger's dark fur and the rooster's bright plumage creates a striking visual effect.

Technique & Style

The tiger's fur is rendered with tiny dots and lines, giving it a rough texture. The artist's use of bold colors and sharp contrasts makes both animals stand out. The technique of creating texture with closely spaced lines is reminiscent of cross-hatching.

Artist & collection

Artist

Utagawa Hirokage

Hirokage was a quiet guy who lived in Tokyo when the city was still called Edo. He spent his days carving woodblocks, turning scenes of the city into prints you could hang on your wall. His teacher was Hiroshige, the…