Kakemono Calligraphy: Play

One of a kind — this work exists only once.

Period:
Shôwa (1926–1989)
Dimensions (height x width):
112 x 43 cm
Item number:
4489

This piece has been sold.

Sold – no longer available

This piece was a handmade one-of-a-kind work. It cannot be reordered and will never exist in this form again. The page stays online as part of our archive.

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Details about the sold piece

  • JikusakiWood
  • Material HonshiPaper
  • MotifCalligraphy
  • TechniqueHand-Painted

Description

Four characters are carefully arranged across the surface in two rows, written in an elegant, slightly cursive hand that alternates between calm and dynamic strokes. The meaning of the text is translated as "Play," an unexpectedly light, almost playful subject for the otherwise often serious content of classical calligraphy.

The kakemono was created in the Shôwa period (1926–1989) and was written by hand on paper. The choice of such a cheerful term shows that calligraphy in Japan did not serve only religious or philosophical purposes, but could equally be an expression of joie de vivre and leisure, captured in the same disciplined brush technique as more serious texts.

The roller rods have ends made of wood. With its lighthearted message and at the same time masterful brushwork, this hanging scroll is well suited as a cheerful accent in a living space, and shows how versatile the themes of traditional Japanese calligraphy can be.

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