1789-1800

Gamboling Lions

Japanese, active 1789 - 1800

Originally associated with Indian Buddhism as a symbol of power and protection, the lion assumed a playful quality in later East Asian art, often pictured cavorting among peonies. On this screen (one of a pair), Hasegawa Setsurei has painted a grouping of five dappled lions in blue, green, and white. Their full, curly manes and tails are rendered in gold and silver lines, and the creatures are set against a plain gold backdrop. The broad, flat background of gold leaf helps accentuate the colors and movements of the lions, who look more like kittens than the king of wild beasts. Instead of formidable guardians, here they are portrayed as auspicious emblems.