Dragon in Clouds and Waves

Name: Dragon in Clouds and Waves
SKU: 5725
Price: 370.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Kakemono, unique work, with box, 189 x 61 cm

Product number: 5725

Height 189 cm
Width 61 cm
Item Type Kakemono
Jikusaki Bone
Material Honshi Paper
Period of Creation Meiji (1868–1912)
Technique Hand-Painted
Unique Work Yes
Wooden Box Yes

€370.00

Available, delivery time: 1-3 Days

Description

A dragon winds its way through dense ink clouds, while turbulent waves below crash against its claws – a powerful composition that portrays the dragon as ruler over both water and sky. The dark cloud background is laid out with broad, wet brushstrokes, from which the head and claws of the creature emerge in lighter reserved areas.

This technique, in which the form is not drawn but left free from the ink, demands the utmost confidence from the painter in handling the wet medium. The foamy, curling waves in the lower part of the image are worked out with light, sweeping lines and lend the scene additional dynamism.

The painting is delivered including a wooden box, which serves to protect and properly store the hanging scroll, and makes for a powerful eye-catcher for collectors of classic dragon motifs.

Frequently asked

Does this piece come with a wooden box (Tomobako)?

Yes, this work is delivered with a wooden box.

When was the work created?

Based on the previous owners' information and the condition of the object we place it broadly in the Meiji (1868–1912) 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?.