Tiger, by Katayama Yokoku／Edo Period
Katayama Yokoku (1760 – 1801)
Born in Nagasaki, this painter traveled around Japan, before finally settling in Tottori. In 1793, he succeeded as head of the Katayama family, a branch family of Japanese tea ceremony artists of Nishiyakata in the Tottori Feudal Domain. Called by an imperial prince and the Emperor, he presented his works to them, earning him a high reputation.
He had a strong preference for Chinese taste. He would paint each individual hair, whether human or animal, with a paint brush. Using this original hair-painting technique, he excelled at creating works with unusual and innovative designs. In Tiger, he employs a bold design and depicts a half of a tiger with crescent-moon-shaped eyes.