Puppies in the Grass

Name: Puppies in the Grass
SKU: 4148
Price: 200.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Kakemono, unique work, 190 x 49 cm

Product number: 4148

Height 190 cm
Width 49 cm
Item Type Kakemono
Jikusaki Wood
Material Honshi Paper
Period of Creation Meiji (1868–1912)
Technique Hand-Painted
Unique Work Yes

€200.00

Available, delivery time: 1-3 Days

Description

Playful and huddled closely together, this kakemono shows a small group of young dogs crowding together among tall grasses. Only the alert eyes, fine whiskers, and soft muzzles are clearly worked out, while the puppies' bodies merge into a soft mass of fur blurring into one another.

This painting technique, in which details such as eyes and whiskers are highlighted in fine white while the rest of the body is only suggested in delicate ink tones, is typical of the playful, observation-rich animal painting of certain Japanese schools. It lends the young dogs a particularly touching, lively presence.

Puppy motifs enjoyed great popularity in Japanese painting, as they capture innocence, playfulness, and familial security in an endearing way. For animal lovers and collectors of cheerful, genre-like subjects, this kakemono is a charming and warm-hearted addition to the collection.

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 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?.