Bird on Fruit Tree
Kakemono, unique work, 194 x 61 cm
Product number:
6381
Sold – no longer available
This piece was handmade by Takebe Hakuhō 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 194 cm
- Width 61 cm
- Item Type Kakemono
- Jikusaki Bone
- Material Honshi Silk
- Period of Creation Meiji (1868–1912)
- Technique Hand-Painted
- Unique Work Yes
Description
A single bird sits attentively on a branch, surrounded by dense leaves and ripening fruit. The work shows a fine balance between realistic observation and painterly restraint: the subtle green tones of the plumage blend harmoniously with the cool gray shades of the foliage. Every brushstroke is controlled and precisely placed, convincingly rendering both the structure of the leaves and the soft texture of the bird.
The composition lives from the stillness of the moment – the bird seems to be listening, the light falls gently through the leaves, and the background is deliberately left empty to draw attention to the motif. The painting style reflects the classical aesthetic of the Meiji period, in which observation of nature and spiritual calm form a unity.
Executed on silk, with jikusaki made of bone, dated to the Meiji period. The seal refers to Takebe Hakuhō. The work is kept in a carefully crafted wooden box, which underscores its artistic and craftsmanship quality.
Frequently asked
No – as a one-of-a-kind piece it exists in a single example only.
We would be glad to look for one. Get in touch with the details of the object you are looking for and we will see what we can do.
Because the two pieces of information speak about different things: the period designation describes the object – support, colors, condition – while the signature reflects which name appears on the painting. In most cases there is no attempt at deception behind this, but rather Japanese painting training: copying from workshop models was the curriculum for centuries, an utsushi is regarded as a bow to the teacher, workshops signed with the master's name, and artist names were passed down within a school. Such a hanging scroll is therefore not a forgery, but a hand-painted one-of-a-kind that continues the formal language of its school – just not the work of the famous name, and priced accordingly. We explain this in detail in the guide Why does a kakemono often bear the signature of an artist long deceased?.
