Kakemono Zen Calligraphy "Mu" (Emptiness)

One of a kind — this work exists only once.

Signature / Stamp:
Kobayashi Takahito
Period:
Shôwa (1926–1989)
Dimensions (height x width):
192 x 32 cm
Item number:
6374

This piece has been sold.

Sold – no longer available

This piece was handmade by Kobayashi Takahito and was a 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
  • MotifBuddhism and Zen, Calligraphy
  • TechniqueHand-Painted
  • Wooden BoxYes

Description

Broadly set, powerful brushstrokes dominate this work, forming the character 無 – Mu, a central concept of Zen that stands for "emptiness" or "without." The lines are spontaneous, energetic, and at the same time controlled, giving the composition an inner tension that oscillates between expression and stillness. The large open field surrounding the calligraphy heightens the effect of the character and turns the negative space itself into an active part of the work.

The piece was made on paper with jikusaki of wood and dates from the Shōwa period. A red stamp refers to Kobayashi Takahito. The calligraphy comes in a signed wooden box.

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