Asian Arts | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries | Message Board

Hello Gang,

I know very little about Japanese paintings, and this one is no exception! If someone could offer some thoughts, I'd be grateful.

What I can say is that this was framed by a well known gallery in the 1970's. I've inspected it out of the frame and can see several iterations of conservation on the back. Patches, repairs, etc using very different materials- some more modern like conservation tape, others less modern. The paper is hand laid, the lines showing on the back along with some larger fibers. The silk is extremely thin and seemingly fine, though silk isn't my specialty either. Small repairs to the silk are visible from the back as well. I don't have the measurement of the painting in front of me but it's very roughly 24" by 40" I'm really guessing- I can measure it when I go home if it is important.

Any ideas who the figure is, what the inscription on his scroll reads etc, would be great. I assume he's some sort of literati or scholar. A time period would be swell as well.


I have a few more objects I'd love opinions about as well, I'll post them soon. Thanks in advance for anything you can offer.

The figure is Kanzan ('Han Shan' in Chinese), a Tang Dynasty Buddhist poet and monk, often depicted together with another monk Jittoku ('Shi De').
Kanzan is usually pictured with a scroll; Jittoku with a broom.

Guy.

Thank you for your help, Guy. That's a start. Any thoughts about style, period, quality? Or translation of the text? Anyone else?

Difficult to say but probably 19th century. Can you post an image of the complete scroll with the mounting?

Can't read the text.

Guy.

how about showing the rest of the scroll. has it no inscription, seals, nor content other than that in the image you've shown?

Thanks Guy and Rat. I'll take some additional photos and post them and will be sure to include details of the mounting.

Regarding your question Rat- my photo cropped the image somewhat, but generally there is no inscription, seal etc. The only text is what is written on the scroll Kanzan carries. Let me know if there are other details I can provide to help out.

Thank you.

Asian Arts | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries | Message Board