Kakemono Soga Brothers

The "Soga Monogatari" is among Japan's great historical tales of revenge: it tells how the brothers Soga no Gorō and Soga no Jūrō waited for years for the opportunity to avenge the murder of their father. This kakemono shows the two brothers in tense poses, facing one another, at the moment of utmost determination, their hands close to their swords.

Against a restrained, washed, misty background with a suggested fence, the painter renders the figures' armor and weapons with fine lines and subtle color accents. The reduced palette draws the eye entirely to the postures of the two contenders. The work on silk bears a small red artist's seal and dates from the Shōwa period.

The border in warm gold-brown with a floral pattern and the wooden roller ends complete the classical mounting. A narratively rich motif for collectors who are enthusiastic about the great legends of Japanese history and who take pleasure in figure-rich, tension-filled painting.