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Four Cranes in the Grass Beneath Pines

Kakemono, unique work, 103 x 33 cm
Product number: 3294

Sold – no longer available

This piece was handmade by Toyohiko and was a 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 103 cm
  • Width 33 cm
  • Item Type Kakemono
  • Material Honshi Silk
  • Technique Hand-Painted
  • Unique Work Yes
Signature / Stamp:
Toyohiko
Sold

No longer available

Description

Unlike the flying crane, which is usually depicted in a swooping dive or with outstretched wings, this hanging scroll shows a group of four cranes resting and foraging on the ground, huddled closely together beneath gnarled pines.

The birds are rendered with a fine brushstroke in warm beige and gray tones on silk, their characteristic red crowns glowing subtly. The gnarled pines in the background, likewise a symbol of endurance and long life, reinforce the symbolism of the composition and at the same time create a dense, sheltered pictorial space.

The slightly earthy gold tone of the mounting fabric and the calm, earthbound composition create a warm, almost domestic mood that differs markedly from the vast expanse of sky in a flying crane motif. The artist's signature and red seal are found along the lower edge of the picture.

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?.