Kakemono Mountain Landscape with Fishing Boat on the River

The eye first travels across rugged mountain ranges lying in haze, before the composition opens downward and transitions into a peaceful river valley. Amid bare trees and blossoming branches lies a small property surrounded by a fence, while on the calm water a lone angler goes about his occupation in his boat. This classic sansui composition follows the centuries-old tradition of Japanese landscape painting, in which near and far, rock and water merge into a harmonious pictorial structure.

The delicate green and earth tones used to color the slopes and shores lend the scene an almost meditative mood. Small details such as the blue roof of the house or the pink blossoming branches by the water set gentle accents of color and invite the viewer to contemplate the Kakemono at length and discover ever new details.

The motif was painted by hand on paper and dates from the Shôwa period. The scroll has Jikusaki made of plastic and can be hung in the classical manner or stored away to save space. As a decorative element, it brings the stillness of Japanese river landscapes into any living space.