Kakemono Dragon in Light Contours on Dark Silk

In fine contours executed in light color on a dark silk ground, this dragon winds its way through dense bands of clouds, its head with wide-open eyes and long barbels turned toward the viewer. The scaled body is depicted in several sweeping coils, lending the motif a powerful dynamism despite the reduced, almost monochrome coloring. This type of dragon depiction, usually painted in lighter lines on a dark ground, follows a time-honored iconographic formula of Japanese painting.

We date the work, painted on silk, to the late Edo period. The jikusaki is made of bone, which speaks for a carefully executed, high-quality mounting. The border of the kakemono, however, has been badly affected by age and was unprofessionally glued in the past; this condition can be clearly seen in the product photos. The painting itself, by contrast, is well preserved.

Since a proper repair of the border would involve high costs, we recommend presenting the painting framed instead. For collectors of historical dragon motifs and lovers of Edo-period painting, this kakemono remains, despite the affected mounting, an impressive piece with noticeable age patina.