Horse Leader at the Shrine

Name: Horse Leader at the Shrine
SKU: 3853
Price: 80.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Kakemono, unique work, 203 x 47 cm

Product number: 3853

Height 203 cm
Width 47 cm
Item Type Kakemono
Jikusaki Wood
Material Honshi Paper
Period of Creation Shôwa (1926–1989)
Technique Hand-Painted
Unique Work Yes

€80.00

Available, delivery time: 1-3 Days

Description

Carrying a bucket in his hand, a man in this kakemono leads his horse past a simple torii, as it often marks the entrance to a shrine. The horse wears a plain harness, while the man continues on his way with a focused stride across the open, sparsely decorated picture ground.

The figures are drawn with sparse but confident lines, with the leg positions of man and animal in particular creating a convincing sense of movement. The wide, almost empty pictorial space reinforces the impression of an open, rural setting and draws the eye entirely to the small everyday scene in the lower third of the image.

Such unpretentious genre scenes from rural everyday life were highly popular in Japanese painting, as they offered an unadorned view of simple life beyond courtly or religious motifs. For collectors interested in lively everyday scenes, this kakemono, Horse Leader at the Shrine, is an appealing 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?.