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h6.Tiger and Dragon: Dragon
By unidentified 19th century artist in the style of [[Maruyama Okyo]]
Two-panel folding screen; ink and gold on paper

The tiger is believed to repel evil, while the dragon attracts good fortune. The compound images of the tiger conjuring up the wind and the dragon rising from the crested waves to summon billowing clouds have been the subject of paired paintings by masters of Chinese and Japanese art since the twelfth century. Ōkyo’s screens continue the lineage of imminent artists contributing to this tradition. This example renders both animals in extraordinary detail, with controlled brushwork giving a rich, soft texture to the tiger’s pelt, while moist scales and vapors lightly washed with gold impart a reptilian feeling to the dragon.