Tiger Familyearly 1800s · Study 1983.3

Context from the museum

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).

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected overall measurement for Tiger Family is 384.8 cm wide and 179.4 cm high, equivalent to approximately 151.5 × 70.6 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 2.14:1. The rectangular bounding area is 6.90 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 128.3% of the span before adding a frame. That exceeds the example wall width, so a smaller reference wall would not reproduce the recorded scale. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With Tiger Family in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, Pair of six-panel folding screens; ink and color on paper, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this horizontal composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 384.8 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?