Japanese two-dimensional works

Japanese works of art come in many shapes and sizes, with plentiful hidden meanings, and obvious ones. Just like any piece of art, but they're many forms of one subgroup of art; as there are drawings and paintings. That can be placed in printed books (ehon), single- or multi-sheet prints (hanga), painting in form of hanging-scrolls (kakemono), and handscrolls (emaki), moveable folding screens (byobu), usually in pairs, sliding door paintings (fusuma-e) and smaller-scale fan paintings and album leaves. (smarthistory.org) From these many examples, we can see that art doesn't have any specific form, it has many, yet, they all express the same meaning in different forms.

Such as screens and sliding doors that serve either one or two purposes, to stop the wind or separate rooms. They are often changed to accommodate each season; as well as hanging scrolls, that come in pairs or sets of three. These hanging scrolls can be placed in any and all rooms, as well as used to honor a specific guest.       

Hanging handscrolls or kakemono were traditionally used for calligraphy and Buddhism on silk or paper. With some paper hanging handscrolls having a silk border to complete the scroll as well as a roller at the bottom. All these forms of art whether that be through hanging handscrolls, books, handscrolls, or sliding doors, art and its many application has a great influence.   


(Gan Ku, Tiger, hanging scroll, 1790-1838) 

This hanging handscroll is called the Gan Ku, Tiger, hanging scroll; Gan Ku is the artist who created it. Looking at the form of the tiger we can see its power and threatening appearance. Based on the position of the legs of the tiger, and hunched back. The greatest part about this painting is the contrast between the intense posture of the tiger and the restful backdrop. This hanging handscroll shows the amazing simplicity and elaborate details in the tiger, rocks, water, and tree. These Japanese two-dimensional works truly are amazing, through all through shapes and forms.



The British Museum, "Japanese art: the formats of two-dimensional works," in Smarthistory, March 1, 2017, accessed October 21, 2020, https://smarthistory.org/japanese-art-the-formats-of-two-dimensional-works/. 

"Gan Ku, Tiger, a Hanging Scroll Painting - Google Arts & Culture." Google. Google. Accessed October 23, 2020. https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/gan-ku-tiger-a-hanging-scroll-painting/fAENAcmeV0H6rQ/.



Comments

  1. Ashley MOctober 24, 2020 at 2:20 PM

    Sometimes I think that the only difference between humans and the rest of the animal kingdom is that we are compelled to create art. Then, I remember that there are birds that make these elaborate colorful structures in order to attract a mate. It would be funny to see a bird make a structure that resembles a human though. I wonder how they would make us look? We seem to have a tendency to try anthropomorphize the world around us. While that is not the case with this painting it's still using the essence of the animal to represent human emotions. I love art. This is a lovely piece.

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  2. Amanda SantistevanOctober 25, 2020 at 6:20 PM

    Hi David, I enjoy reading your blog this week. I'm glad you included the purpose of this type of art being displayed on doors and entry ways. I find it interesting that the significance of this art is to not only serve as a wind breaker, and accommodate a room, but also honor a special guest.The Gan Ku Tiger scroll looks very powerful. I like the expression and pose of the tiger and glad you brought attention to it in your blog.

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