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Dragon and Tiger, 1500s. Creator: Sesson Sh?kei (Japanese, 1504-1589)
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Dragon and Tiger, 1500s. Creator: Sesson Sh?kei (Japanese, 1504-1589)
Dragon and Tiger, 1500s. These paired creatures represent the elements of water and wind in Chinese cosmology: the dragons swirling form conjures rain clouds, and the tiger embodies the winds terrible, unpredictable force. Former CMA director Sherman Lee found in Sessons paintings intimations of a developing Japanese style distinct from Chinese predecessors. Here, parody and pattern are at the forefront. The formidable, awe-inspiring tiger takes on the demeanor of a curious house cat, and a once-snarling dragons face morphs into an oddly befuddled human expression. Such exaggerated, humorously rendered faces suggest a gentle domestication of these primal forces. Lee described Sessons work as inhabiting a world of aesthetic awareness, in which brushstroke and pattern are primary and where waves are " arranged in graceful and rhythmically repetitive reflex curves, primarily decorative shapes and only secondarily water and foam."
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Media ID 19625398
© Heritage Art/Heritage Images
1392 1573 1573 1615 Ink On Paper Pair Of Six Panel Folding Screens 1504 1589 Momoyama Muromachi Periods Sesson Shūkei
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases the artwork "Dragon and Tiger" created by Sesson Shūkei, a renowned Japanese artist from the 1500s. The piece beautifully captures the essence of Chinese cosmology, representing the elements of water and wind through these mythical creatures. In Chinese belief, dragons symbolize rain clouds with their swirling form, while tigers embody the unpredictable force of wind. However, Sesson's unique style brings a touch of parody and pattern to this traditional subject matter. The once fearsome tiger now appears curious like a house cat, while the dragon's expression transforms into an oddly befuddled human face. Through exaggerated and humorously rendered faces, Sesson playfully domesticates these primal forces. Former CMA director Sherman Lee recognized in Sesson's paintings an emerging Japanese style distinct from its Chinese predecessors. He described Sesson's work as inhabiting a world where brushstroke and pattern take precedence over realism. The waves depicted in this artwork are arranged in graceful and rhythmically repetitive reflex curves that serve primarily as decorative shapes rather than literal representations of water and foam. This approach highlights Sesson's emphasis on aesthetic awareness. This mesmerizing print allows us to appreciate not only the artistic mastery behind "Dragon and Tiger" but also how it reflects cultural influences between Japan and China during that era.
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