Songbird on Blooming Camellia Branch

Name: Songbird on Blooming Camellia Branch
Brand: Araki Kanpo
SKU: 6470
Price: 1210.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Kakemono, unique work, with box, 192 x 46 cm

Product number: 6470

Height 192 cm
Width 46 cm
Item Type Kakemono
Jikusaki Wood
Material Honshi Paper
Period of Creation Meiji (1868–1912)
Technique Hand-Painted
Unique Work Yes
Wooden Box Yes

Signature / Stamp:

Araki Kanpo

€1,210.00

Available, delivery time: 1-3 Days

Description

Delicate and imbued with great stillness, this composition unfolds on light washi paper: a slender branch winds diagonally across the picture plane, set with blue-green leaves and a wide-open white camellia. On one of the upper twigs sits a small songbird, leaning slightly forward as if following the scent of the blossom. The coloring is restrained and of fine harmony – the blue-gray of the leaves, the flawless white of the blossom, and the warm tones of the bird combine into a coherent overall image.

Araki Kanpo was a Japanese painter of the Meiji period, known for his subtle depictions of nature and animals. The painting bears his signature as well as the inscription "八十一歳" – created at the age of 81, making it likely a late work from his hand, testifying to unbroken painterly assurance.

Painted on washi paper and mounted in a golden-brown brocade border, this hand-painted unique work is complemented by a signed wooden box, which further underscores its documentary value.

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 Araki Kanpo

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?.