Woodblock Print Triptych by Baido Hosai: Kabuki Scene: Hero & Tiger, Framed

One man, one tiger, three sheets of paper, and no room for either to back down.

This woodblock print triptych shows a Kabuki scene, Hero and Tiger, by Baido Hosai (1848-1920). It comes from Japan, is dated 1901, and is ink on paper. Prints like this served Kabuki audiences as souvenirs and publicity, much as fans now keep photographs of favorite performers. A wild-haired hero in patterned robes struggles at the center beside a striped tiger. Women in rich kimono watch from either side. Portrait insets sit in the upper corners, under a title banner. Framed, it measures 42.5 inches wide by 28.5 high.

The tiger got good reviews.