Hina Dolls with Poem

Name: Hina Dolls with Poem
SKU: 3726
Price: 90.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Kakemono, unique work, 151 x 51 cm

Product number: 3726

Height 151 cm
Width 51 cm
Item Type Kakemono
Jikusaki Wood
Material Honshi Paper
Period of Creation Shôwa (1926–1989)
Technique Hand-Painted
Unique Work Yes

€90.00

Available, delivery time: 1-3 Days

Description

In brief, calligraphic brushstrokes, this kakemono shows an imperial couple in the style of Hina dolls – reduced to a few characteristic forms such as the curved headdress and the sweeping, wide-flowing robe.

Above the scene, a short poem is inscribed in flowing handwriting, joining image and script into a coherent whole. This union of painting and poetry stands in the tradition of literati-influenced Japanese art, in which a poem deepens the pictorial statement or lends it an additional, often personal note. The restrained coloring, with a few accents of red and yellow, allows the calligraphic quality of the brushwork to stand out all the more.

As a motif for the Hinamatsuri festival, this kakemono combines the festive significance of the Hina dolls with the quiet art form of calligraphy. For collectors who value the connection between image and written word, this work, Hina Dolls with Poem, is a particularly rich choice.

Frequently asked

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?.