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Sparrow under the Pine

Kakemono, unique work, 170 x 39 cm
Product number: 4893

Sold – no longer available

This piece was a handmade 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 170 cm
  • Width 39 cm
  • Item Type Kakemono
  • Jikusaki Wood
  • Material Honshi Silk
  • Period of Creation Taishô (1912–1926)
  • Technique Hand-Painted
  • Unique Work Yes
Sold

No longer available

Description

Along the upper edge of the picture, a small sparrow traces its path across the wide, empty expanse of the paper, while on the right side of the composition a gnarled pine grows into the space with its soft clusters of needles. Below stands a figure in traditional dress, holding a large, circular straw object, whose calm, introspective posture lends the whole scene an almost narrative quality.

The restrained coloring, kept in subdued tones of gray and brown, leaves much of the bright silk ground exposed, creating a light, almost floating atmosphere. The contrast between the tiny, fleeting bird and the down-to-earth, richly detailed figure gives this composition its particular charm, telling of a quiet, rural scene.

The motif was painted by hand on silk; the scroll dates from the Taishô period and has Jikusaki made of wood. With its fine, old-masterly appearance, it is an appealing addition for collectors of traditional Japanese hanging scrolls.

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?.