Kakemono Two Elders Before the Rising Sun

One of a kind — this work exists only once.

Period:
Meiji (1868–1912)
Dimensions (height x width):
187 x 48 cm
Item number:
4183

This piece has been sold.

Sold – no longer available

This piece was a handmade one-of-a-kind work. It cannot be reordered and will never exist in this form again. The page stays online as part of our archive.

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Details about the sold piece

  • JikusakiWood
  • Material HonshiPaper
  • MotifPeople
  • TechniqueHand-Painted

Description

Two elderly men in traditional dress are depicted before a strongly red-painted, rising sun, one of them carrying the other piggyback – a lively, almost humorous scene that stands out clearly from purely contemplative landscape motifs. The facial expressions of the two figures are captured pointedly with fine brushwork.

Such genre-like depictions of elderly men, often painted with a wink, were popular in Japanese painting and frequently combined symbolism – such as longevity or companionship – with a cheerful, narrative note. The rising sun in the background reinforces the positive, auspicious mood of the motif.

The kakemono is painted on paper, framed with wooden rods, and dates from the Meiji period. With its charming pictorial language and bold coloring, this hanging scroll is both an entertaining and artful testament to traditional Japanese painting.

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