Bodhidharma with Fan and Gourd Bottle

Name: Bodhidharma with Fan and Gourd Bottle
SKU: 6197
Price: 180.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Kakemono, unique work, 173 x 60 cm

Product number: 6197

Height 173 cm
Width 60 cm
Item Type Kakemono
Jikusaki Wood
Material Honshi Paper
Period of Creation Shôwa (1926–1989)
Technique Hand-Painted
Unique Work Yes

€180.00

Available, delivery time: 1-3 Days

Description

With a bushy beard, a piercing gaze, and a fan in hand, this is a powerful interpretation of Bodhidharma, the legendary founder of Zen Buddhism. Over his shoulder, a gourd bottle winds upward amid foliage – a motif often associated with Taoist immortals and their wisdom, and here merged in an appealing way with the depiction of the patriarch. The bold, caricature-like, sharpened facial features and the lively expression lend the figure an almost humorous presence, as is often found in Japanese Zen painting (Zenga).

An accompanying colophon inscription in cursive calligraphy adds a scholarly, literary dimension to the image. Painted on paper and mounted with a jikusaki of wood, this hand-painted unique work from the Shôwa period combines spiritual depth with painterly wit.

An expressive kakemono for lovers of Zen iconography and Japanese ink painting.

Frequently asked

When was the work created?

Based on the previous owners' information and the condition of the object we place it broadly in the Shôwa (1926–1989) period, but cannot give a precise date.

Is this genuine craftsmanship?

Yes, this piece is a genuine handcrafted original that exists only once.

Why does the date of creation sometimes not match the artist's dates

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?.