Cleveland Museum of Art

Tiger Family

Kishi Ganku

Date

early 1800s

Medium

One of a pair of six-panel folding screens; ink and color on paper

Culture

Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)

Department

Japanese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

By the time this self-taught painter reached his thirties, his paintings were keenly sought after by Kyoto’s sophisticated patrons, including members of the imperial family. Judging from the surviving works, his supporters delighted in the colorful, auspicious imagery of Chinese historical figures, blossoming plum trees, cranes, peacocks, roosters, and especially tigers. Kishi Ganku was originally from the coastal town of Kanazawa, but relocated to Kyoto to work for the Arisugawa family. His work incorporates stylistic elements from the Kano school, the Maruyama school, and works by the Chinese artist Shen Nanping (1682–1760).

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