Yoshiiku: Two Men and a Terrific Leopard (Ken Game of Tiger)

Artist: Ochiai Yoshiiku (1833-1904)
Title: Two men and a leopard   Date: 7/1860

Ken Game of Tiger. A serious-looking man startles his gun-toting companion with the same stare that the large leopard behind him seems to have. The leopard is skillfully rendered, at once playful and fierce. The Japanese would often use the same name for a tiger as they would to indicate a leopard (which they thought was what a female tiger looked like), and this animal was called a tiger at the time. Imported by Dutch traders through Yokohama, the exotic big cat drew tens of thousands of spectators when it was exhibited near Ryogoku Bridge in Edo during the 7th month of 1860. This work may be combining a form of playful satire with the terrific image of the big cat, who seems tamed by the seated official. Ken was a popular game that is comparable to rocks, paper, scissors. The text at top would seem to be a “new song” that translates into a playful commentary, perhaps about the differences between a cat, a leopard, and a tiger. There are several layers of humor here that the public at the time would have appreciated.

Condition: Excellent/very good impression and color and very good condition.

Dimensions: ôban 36 x 23.8 cm
Seal: Carver’s seal: Watanabe hori Ei (Watanabe Eizô)
Signature: Ikkeisai Yoshiiku with the square Yoshikiri seal below

SKU: YII049