Bodhidharma in a Billowing Robe
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
- Height 175 cm
- Width 48 cm
- Item Type Kakemono
- Jikusaki Wood
- Material Honshi Paper
- Period of Creation Shôwa (1926–1989)
- Technique Hand-Painted
- Unique Work Yes
No longer available
Description
With just a few but incredibly expressive ink lines, this kakemono captures the founding patriarch of Zen Buddhism, Bodhidharma, on paper. The billowing robe is rendered with broad, wet brushstrokes, while the piercing eyes and weather-beaten beard are worked out in finer lines – a contrast that lends the motif its penetrating presence.
In Japan, Bodhidharma is regarded as a symbol of perseverance, inner strength, and meditative absorption; depictions of him are traditionally found in tea houses, temples, and study rooms, where they are meant to encourage concentration. The reduced palette of black and gray tones underscores the austerity and clarity that underlie Zen thought.
Painted on paper with a jikusaki of wood, this hand-painted unique work dates from the Shôwa period. It is excellently suited for anyone interested in Zen philosophy or wishing to lend their home a calm, contemplative touch.
