Bird at the Reed Bank
Sold – no longer available
This piece was handmade by Kano Tanyu 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
- Height 180 cm
- Width 46 cm
- Item Type Kakemono
- Jikusaki Bone
- Material Honshi Paper
- Period of Creation Meiji (1868–1912)
- Technique Hand-Painted
- Unique Work Yes
- Wooden Box Yes
No longer available
Description
Amid slender reed stalks swaying by the water, a small bird has settled in this hanging scroll, "Bird at the Reed Bank," while in the background a riverside landscape is suggested with only a few brushstrokes. The restrained, almost sketch-like painting style leaves much white space, giving the composition a great sense of lightness and stillness.
This type of landscape painting featuring a single bird by the water stands in the tradition of Kachô-ga and evokes the seasons as well as life along the river - a motif that has inspired poets and painters alike for centuries. The fine, almost calligraphic linework of the reed stalks forms an appealing contrast to the compact shape of the bird.
The hanging scroll bears the signature or seal of Kano Tanyu and is delivered including a separately signed wooden box. The painting on paper rests on a roller shaft made of bone and dates from the Meiji period. A stylish unique work for collectors who appreciate the reduced, atmospheric compositions of Japanese ink painting.
