Two Dragons Ascending Through the Clouds

Name: Two Dragons Ascending Through the Clouds
Brand: Bunkai
SKU: 5933
Price: 380.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Kakemono, unique work, 184 x 55 cm

Product number: 5933

Height 184 cm
Width 55 cm
Item Type Kakemono
Jikusaki Wood
Material Honshi Paper
Period of Creation Meiji (1868–1912)
Technique Hand-Painted
Unique Work Yes

Signature / Stamp:

Bunkai

€380.00

Available, delivery time: 1-3 Days

Description

Between dense, ink-blurred cloud banks, a dragon spirals upward – with widely spread, powerfully curved wings, its scaled back and curved claws half hidden in the mist. This pure ink painting dispenses entirely with color, relying instead on a virtuosic interplay of deep black, fine gradations of gray, and reserved empty space, making the movement and primal power of the mythical creature all the more striking.

The dragon is one of the oldest and most significant pictorial motifs of East Asia: as ruler over water and weather, as a symbol of power, wisdom, and cosmic energy. This depiction of the dragon in a sea of clouds draws on a long pictorial tradition, rendered here with confident brushwork and a great sense of dynamism. The painting bears the signature and seal of the painter Bunkai and was created in the Meiji period.

Painted on paper and fitted with a wooden jikusaki mounting, this hand-painted unique work combines traditional sumi-e skill with an impressive, almost dramatic pictorial effect that lends any room a powerful presence.

Frequently asked

Does this work carry a seal or signature?

Yes, this piece carries the signature or seal of Bunkai

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?.