Korea, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910) / late 1800s
Tiger Family
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Tiger Family as painting (Korea, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910) · late 1800s).
A great number of tigers used to have live in the Korean peninsula. An old Chinese proverb says: “Korean people hunt tigers half of the year, and tigers hunt people other half of the year.”
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this painting as hanging scroll; ink and color on paper.
The museum's collection notes: In deep mountains, a tigress, two cubs, and a leopard welcome the early morning sun. This is not merely a playful scene but a well calculated image with symbols of longevity (pine trees), prosperity (tigress and cubs), and good fortune (leopard). Traditionally, on New Year’s Eve, the image of a fearsome-looking tiger was pasted on entrance doors to ward off evil spirits. Conventional Korean tiger paintings often include frolicking magpies, but here, the crimson sun is placed behind a majestic pine. Through the sunrise and the details of the felines’ skin shines the artist’s keen interest in creating a realistic atmosphere.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtTiger FamilyOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.