Kakemono Three Bodhidharma Sketches on Silk

In terse, powerful ink lines, the unmistakable figure of Bodhidharma appears, surrounded by further sketchily indicated heads and figures – entirely in the spirit of the reduced, spontaneous expressive power of Zen painting (Zenga). A calligraphic inscription above the depiction lends the work additional depth and invites contemplation, while the undyed silk gives the motif an almost floating lightness.

Painted on silk, the artist relies entirely on the effect of the brushstroke: a few confident lines suffice to capture the expression and character of the depicted figures. The work dates from the Shōwa period and bears the immediate, almost calligraphic visual language typical of Zen painting, in which every stroke seems deliberately placed and nothing is left to chance.

Due to age, slight stains have formed in the upper area of the mounting and the painting, lending the piece its authentic patina without diminishing the impact of the depiction – a visible testament to its long history. The kakemono is delivered in a matching wooden box (tomobako) and mounted with wooden rollers – an expressive piece for collectors of Zen Buddhist art.