Squirrel in Grapevine Leaves

Name: Squirrel in Grapevine Leaves
SKU: 4410
Price: 190.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Kakemono, unique work, 186 x 48 cm

Product number: 4410

Height 186 cm
Width 48 cm
Item Type Kakemono
Jikusaki Wood
Material Honshi Paper
Period of Creation Shôwa (1926–1989)
Technique Hand-Painted
Unique Work Yes

€190.00

Available, delivery time: 1-3 Days

Description

Amid lush grapevine leaves and hanging grapes, a small squirrel has settled in this kakemono, its bushy tail and alert eyes bringing the scene to life.

The combination of grapevine and squirrel is one of the classic motifs of Japanese ink painting and traditionally stands for fertility and prosperity. The leaves and tendrils are executed in loosely applied, iridescent shades of gray, while individual grapes are suggested with fine dots.

On the right side of the image, a calligraphy in cursive script complements the composition and lends the work additional literary depth, as was customary in the classical Chinese-Japanese image-text tradition. The subtle interplay of animal, plant, and script motifs makes this kakemono a multilayered work that convinces both through its painterly quality and its symbolic meaning. For lovers of traditional Japanese nature painting, it is an appealing 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 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?.