Calligraphy "Dark Water Between Blossoming Paths"
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 25 cm
- Item Type Kakemono
- Material Honshi Paper
- Period of Creation Shôwa (1926–1989)
- Technique Hand-Painted
- Unique Work Yes
No longer available
Description
With just a few but expressive characters, this calligraphy captures a line from a poem by the famous Chinese poet Du Fu (712–770): "Dark water flows between blossoming streets" is the poetic statement that speaks of quiet, almost melancholic contemplation of nature and has inspired calligraphers to artistic engagement for centuries.
The brushwork is powerful and generous, individual strokes flow into one another and create an almost dance-like movement on the paper. A red seal in the upper right completes the composition, while the characters themselves, through their dynamism, visually evoke the flowing water of the poem and vividly bring the movement before the viewer's eyes.
The calligraphy is written on paper and framed by a mounting of silk brocade in muted shades of green; however, both roller ends (jikusaki) are missing. For collectors of classical Chinese poetry in Japanese calligraphy, this kakemono is a piece full of literary depth and powerful brushwork.
