The Hare in the Grass

A hare sniffs curiously among grasses and autumnal chrysanthemum branches, ears raised, one paw slightly lifted. The fine rendering of the fur, with its countless carefully placed brush hairs, stands in charming contrast to the delicate blossoms in lighter tones that push into the scene from above.

In the East Asian pictorial tradition, the hare is regarded as a symbol of vigilance, fertility, and a long, happy life, and is often depicted together with autumnal plants such as chrysanthemums, which themselves stand for longevity and constancy. The combination of both motifs lends the image a warm, friendly overall mood.

The kakemono was hand-painted on paper during the Shôwa period and is fitted with wooden jikusaki. The naturalistic yet playful manner of depiction reveals the practiced hand of an artist familiar with animal and plant painting. As a unique work, this hanging scroll brings a light, buoyant note to any collection of traditional Japanese painting.