Painting depicting a tiger and two magpies in a pine tree, Minhwa 민화 school, Korea, 19th - 20th century Ink and watercolor on paper depicting a more comical than frightening representation of a tiger with its mouth half-open, showing its fangs, eyes round and bulging, sitting in front of a pine tree where two magpies seem to be conversing without being scared by the predator. Asian mounting on wooden frame covered with paper at the back and framed with silk of various tents at the front. Dim. painting : 92 x 69,4 cm ; dim. mounting : 130 x 84,5 cm Moisture stains, some repairs. These paintings featuring tigers and magpies are commonly called Hojakdo. The word "ho" represents a tiger, "jak" indicates a magpie, and "do" means painting. Ancient Koreans depicted tigers with humorous facial expressions to overcome the fear they inspired. They also hung pictures of comical tigers in front of their doors to chase away evil spirits, because tigers symbolize strength. The magpie, on the other hand, symbolizes the announcement of good news or close friends and is considered the messenger of the deities of the shrines that bring good luck. It guides the direction and informs the tiger to help ward off evil spirits. The appearance of the magpie adds an interesting and delicate story to the painting. There is a deeper symbolism to the depiction of tigers and magpies in the Korean folk painting called Minhwa. There are several themes that can be encountered, including the Kkachi horangi. Kkachi horangi 까치호랑이 is a genre of folk painting in Korea that thus features magpies and tigers. In these paintings, the tiger, representing authority and aristocracy, is often ridiculed while the magpie, representing the common man, is presented as dignified. These paintings were a satire of the social hierarchy of the Korean feudal society of Joseon.