Two Cranes on a Rock Beneath the Pine
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 186 cm
- Width 68 cm
- Item Type Kakemono
- Jikusaki Wood
- Material Honshi Paper
- Period of Creation Shôwa (1926–1989)
- Technique Hand-Painted
- Unique Work Yes
No longer available
Description
Two elegant cranes with characteristic red head markings stand on a rocky outcrop, while a gnarled pine and a delicately blossoming plum branch complete the composition in the background. The fine feather rendering and the high-contrast black-and-white design of the plumage attest to great painterly precision.
In Japan, cranes are traditionally regarded as a symbol of longevity, good fortune, and fidelity, as according to tradition they remain together for life. In combination with pine and plum blossom, both likewise emblems of constancy and new beginnings, an especially auspicious overall motif emerges.
The painting is done on paper, mounted with wooden rods, and dates from the Shôwa period. With its classical symbolism and careful execution, this kakemono is a timeless example of Japanese bird-and-flower painting, one that is also suitable as a gift for special occasions.
