The Snail on the Lotus Flower

Name: The Snail on the Lotus Flower
SKU: 5613
Price: 410.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Kakemono, unique work, 176 x 40 cm

Product number: 5613

Height 176 cm
Width 40 cm
Item Type Kakemono
Jikusaki Wood
Material Honshi Paper
Period of Creation Shôwa (1926–1989)
Technique Hand-Painted
Unique Work Yes

€410.00

Available, delivery time: 1-3 Days

Description

A small snail, placed almost incidentally among the large, overlapping leaves of a lotus plant – a motif that captures the quiet powers of observation of Japanese nature painting. The leaves are laid out in strong, wet ink tones, with clearly visible leaf veins fanning out across the entire surface. The snail itself is suggested with a few fine lines and blends almost inconspicuously into the foliage.

This restraint in the composition is typical of the sumi-e tradition, in which even small, inconspicuous creatures are worthy of their own contemplation.

In East Asian symbolism, the lotus plant is regarded as a sign of purity, rising unblemished from murky water, lending the image a quiet philosophical depth.

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?.