Dragon Amidst Clouds

The founder of the Maruyama school in Kyoto, Maruyama Okyo (1733-1795) pioneered a naturalistic style of “sketching from life,” a new approach inspired by Western techniques. This innovation held special appeal for his patrons among the wealthy merchant class of the era, who were less drawn to conventional forms of traditional art. His technique in rendering the natural world combined with sensitivity to the decorative possibilities of the composition make his paintings irresistible. Okyo’s work was in great demand even during his lifetime, and he is said to have taught nearly a thousand pupils including some reputable artists such as Genki (Komai Ki; 1747-1797), Matsumura Goshun (1752-1811), Nagasawa Rosetsu (1754–1799) and Kishi Ganku (1749–1838).
The brocade used in the mounting of the painting features striking patterns reminiscent of a tiger’s paws. Combined with the subject of the painting, it evokes the celebrated motif of the “Tiger and Dragon,” a symbol of cosmic balance and dynamic opposition. This playful and carefully considered coordination, known as toriawase—the artful matching of themes and elements—reflects the refined aesthetic sensibility that characterizes classical Japanese display practices. In Japanese art, toriawase extends beyond decoration; it embodies a cultivated sensitivity to context, resonance, and symbolic or seasonal meaning. The elegant application of toriawase in this work not only reveals the discerning taste of its original patron but also highlights the sophisticated dialogue between image and mounting in Japanese culture.
There is a pair of paintings of dragon and tiger by the same artist in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum, image accessible online at ‘https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/897122’.