Pair of Mythological Painted Panels

Created in the 1970s just as China was beginning its ascent as a global economic force, this set of four painted panels based on mythological tales seem to foretell the nation’s strength and power. Pictured in what is described as a “yellow mountain atmosphere,” a lion and tiger play protector and conqueror - the lion staring down a snake and the tiger bearing down on a hapless deer. Accompanied by text posing the question, "which creature is stronger?," each magnificent beast is portrayed at the full height of its powers, rendered in high-keyed colors that give the work great vitality.