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Calligraphy "A Wise Statement Always Remains Wise"

Kakemono, unique work, 196 x 53 cm
Product number: 3989

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 196 cm
  • Width 53 cm
  • Item Type Kakemono
  • Jikusaki Wood
  • Material Honshi Paper
  • Period of Creation Shôwa (1926–1989)
  • Technique Hand-Painted
  • Unique Work Yes
Sold

No longer available

Description

Four boldly rendered characters fill this calligraphy hanging scroll from top to bottom, accompanied on the left by a smaller signature line and two red seals. The statement can be translated roughly as "A Wise Statement Always Remains Wise" and thus belongs to the category of aphorisms often used in Japanese calligraphy as an expression of life wisdom.

The brushwork appears swift and confident, with strong, broad strokes that vividly convey the movement of the hand to the viewer. In Japan, such calligraphies are traditionally understood not only as an art of writing but also as an expression of the writer's character. Painted on paper during the Shôwa period, the work is framed by a plain brown border and mounted on a wooden rod.

This hanging scroll is an appealing choice for anyone interested in the expressive power of East Asian calligraphy, and its timeless message suits both a modern and a traditionally furnished home equally well.

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?.