Kakemono Cranes and Turtle

Beneath the gnarled branches of an old pine and the first blossoms of a plum tree, two cranes and a turtle meet on this kakemono – a pictorial combination that has stood for longevity, good fortune, and marital fidelity in Japanese art for centuries. The two birds face one another, their red-marked crowns and finely hatched plumage lending the scene a calm, almost reverent mood, while the turtle makes its way leisurely into the picture at the lower edge.

To the right of the motif, a calligraphic line of poetry completes the composition, uniting image and script into a classical whole, as is often found in traditional Japanese ink painting. The painting is executed on silk and bears the signature and seal of Suiu Oshida, whose seals can be seen at the lower edge of the picture. The restrained palette of earth tones, green, and a strong red on the cranes' heads sets a subtle accent within the muted composition.

The scroll mounting, with its wooden jikusaki ends, dates from the Shôwa period and displays the ornate border of patterned fabric typical of kakemono. As wall decoration, the painting can be presented in the classic manner in a tokonoma, but it works just as well as an eye-catcher in a Western-style room – a piece of Japanese painting that unites symbolism and craftsmanship in an unassuming way.