Bodhidharma with Piercing Gaze

Name: Bodhidharma with Piercing Gaze
SKU: 6078
Price: 340.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Kakemono, unique work, 200 x 51 cm

Product number: 6078

Height 200 cm
Width 51 cm
Item Type Kakemono
Jikusaki Wood
Material Honshi Paper
Period of Creation Shôwa (1926–1989)
Technique Hand-Painted
Unique Work Yes

€340.00

Available, delivery time: 1-3 Days

Description

With bushy eyebrows, a piercing gaze, and a flowing beard, this portrait of Bodhidharma fills nearly the entire pictorial surface. The coarse, powerful ink lines and the striking, almost caricature-like exaggerated facial features lend the depiction an immediate, almost tangible presence. Particularly striking are the large earrings, a detail rarely found in depictions of the Zen patriarch, which gives the figure an additional, individual character trait.

As the founder of Zen Buddhism and legendary wandering monk, Bodhidharma embodies perseverance, willpower, and unshakable determination. Painted on paper and fitted with a jikusaki made of wood, this hand-painted unique work from the Shôwa period is an expressive portrait 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?.