Kakemono Carefree Fun

One of a kind — this work exists only once.

Period:
Shôwa (1926–1989)
Dimensions (height x width):
190 x 51 cm
Item number:
5503

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

  • JikusakiBone
  • Material HonshiPaper
  • MotifCalligraphy
  • TechniqueHand-Painted

Description

This calligraphic hanging scroll dates from the Shôwa period and sets four characters onto plain paper with sweeping, energetic brushstrokes. The strokes flow into one another, at some points almost merging into a single continuous movement, hinting at the speed with which the calligraphy was created.

The characters can be translated as "Carefree Fun" and take up a motif from classical Chinese and Japanese poetry: the joy of a moment of inner ease, far removed from duty and constraint. A red seal at the top right, along with two further seals beside the writer's signature, frame the characters.

The scroll rods are made of bone, and the picture support consists of fine paper. The restrained, almost monochrome mounting draws the eye entirely to the powerful script, making this unique work an expressive example of 20th-century Japanese calligraphy.

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