Kano Eisen'in (1696-1731) - Wild boar and bush clover
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PRICE : $1450
Item Number : 942932
ARTIST : Kano Eisen'in Furunobu (1696-1731) was the son and pupil of Kano Chikanobu (1660-1728). He became the fourth generation head of the Kobikicho Kano, a position which was passed to him by his father. In 1711 at the tender age of 16 he was appointed an official artist of the Tokugawa Shogunate. He was ordered by the emperor to copy the paintings in the Imperial collection and was also commissioned to paint folding screens for the emperor. His father Chikanobu had previously painted a screen to be given to a Korean emissary on command of the shogun.
AGE : First half of the 18th century
SIZE : The image measures 34'' by 13.5'' (87 by 34.5 cm). The scroll measures 65'' by 14'' (165 by 36 cm).
DESCRIPTION : Very softly defined by ink washes, this little wild boar sleeps soundly under cover of delicate bush clover. It is a common pairing and one that seems to suggest that for the boar's at times reckless courage and bravery there is a quieter, more reflective side. The boar is the twelfth sign of the zodiac. The Chinese zodiac was officially adopted by Japan in 604 AD and used until the Gregorian calendar was embraced in 1873. It played a significant role in the lives of the people born under it, permeating all levels of society. This scroll certainly would have been hung to celebrate the year of the boar though the owner may also have hung it at other times to give an insight into his or her character and approach to life. The Edo period brocade features a wonderful rabbit motif. Those born under the sign of the rabbit, the fourth sign of the zodiac, are highly compatible with those of the boar sign.
TECHNIQUE : Ink and pigment on silk
CONDITION : Good condition. Essentially there is one noticeable spot to the lower left of the boar.
