Enso in Powerful Brushstrokes

Name: Enso in Powerful Brushstrokes
Brand: Hirata Umura
SKU: 6159
Price: 390.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Kakemono, unique work, with box, 140 x 72 cm

Product number: 6159

Height 140 cm
Width 72 cm
Item Type Kakemono
Jikusaki Sculpture
Material Honshi Paper
Period of Creation Shôwa (1926–1989)
Technique Hand-Painted
Unique Work Yes
Wooden Box Yes

Signature / Stamp:

Hirata Umura

€390.00

Available, delivery time: 1-3 Days

Description

With a single, energetic sweep of the brush, this Enso comes into being – more compact and denser in its stroke than classical interpretations, with clearly visible traces of brush abrasion along the lower edge of the image, making the speed of execution almost tangible. A short line of text, set in delicate calligraphy, accompanies the circle along the left edge of the painting.

The Enso is one of the best-known symbols of Zen Buddhism: it represents enlightenment, strength, and the emptiness of the universe, with the very imperfection of the circular form – its open or irregular closure – regarded as an expression of impermanence and authenticity. The work bears the signature and seal of Hirata Umura and was created during the Shōwa period. Painted on paper and fitted with a jikusaki made of synthetic material, this hand-painted, one-of-a-kind piece embodies the meditative power of Zen calligraphy in an especially direct and forceful form.

Frequently asked

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

Yes, this work is delivered with a wooden box.

Does this work carry a seal or signature?

Yes, this piece carries the signature or seal of Hirata Umura

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?.