19th century
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
Image: 13 5/8 × 9 5/8 in. (34.6 × 24.4 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of the Estate of Samuel Isham, 1914
Accession Number
JP212.19
Tags
Art Historical Context
This vibrant woodblock print by Utagawa Kunis (1786–1865), a master of the ukiyo-e tradition during Japan's Edo period (1615–1868), captures dynamic interplay between men and tigers. Created in the 19th century using ink and color on paper the image measures 13⅝ × 9⅝ inches, a standard size for these affordable, mass-produced artworks that brought art to the masses. Kunisada, also known as Toyokuni III, was one of the most prolific ukiyo-e artists, renowned for his bold compositions, expressive figures, and intricate use of color achieved through collaborative woodblock carving and printing te...
About the Artist
Utagawa Kunisada · 1786–1864
**Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1865)** Born in 1786 in the Honjo district of Edo (modern Tokyo), Utagawa Kunisada hailed from a family with a hereditary ferry-boat service that provided financial stability, allowing him to pursue art from a young age. His father, an amateur poet of note, died shortly after his birth, leaving young Sumida Shōgorō (Kunisada's childhood name) to nurture his evident talent...