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Circa 1900 Japanese Pine Screen Pair. Aged Dragons by Suzuki Shonen

Creator: Suzuki Shonen
Offered by: Kristan Hauge Japanese Art

Description
Suzuki Shonen (1848-1918)
Aged Dragons
Meiji period (1868-1912). Circa 1900.
A pair of six-panel Japanese screens. Ink and gold leaf on paper.
Dimensions: Each Screen: H. 170 cm x 378 cm (67″ x 149″)
Price: USD $34,000

As with the pair of Suzuki Shonen pine screens in the collection of the Indianapolis Museum, this painting’s title draws a comparison between these pine trees and ancient dragons. The pines’ age is evident in their thick, moss-covered trunks and their imposing size, a fact underscored by the artist’s deliberate cropping of their tops and bottoms to fit within the frame. Bold, expressive strokes of deep black ink define the robust trunks and sharp needles, creating a profound sense of grandeur. The artist skillfully employs different shades of ink to capture the many facets of the pine tree, from the rugged bark of its trunk and branches to the pine cones and needles, showcasing a masterful demonstration of skill and vitality.

The current pair of screens and the ones from Indianapolis exhibit remarkable similarities with regards to subject matter and composition yet the present screens are notably bolder and more expressive. The brushwork is more vigorous and the contrasts stronger. The black ink, particularly in the trunks, creates dramatic visual weight. The massive trunks anchor each screen, with heavy use of foreground space. The Indianapolis pair are slightly more refined and controlled with the lines more fluid and the transitions softened. They invoke a more quiet elegance rather than dramatic tension of the pair been presented here. For another very similar pair of ‘Aged Dragon’ pine screens by Suzuki Shonen, see a previously listed and sold pair on 1stdibs (also from my gallery). Shonen painted many pairs of screens during his lifetime and one of his most common themes was the pine tree, the “Sho” in his name, Shonen, being the Japanese character for “pine.”

Suzuki Shonen was one of the leading Japanese artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was continually active in major national and international exhibitions including the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago and the 1900 International Exposition in Paris. Shonen never worked from preliminary sketches, but painted quickly and directly, in a bold, individual style. Shonen’s great technical skill in handling ink tonalities and striking, forceful brushwork became the signal features of his style.

Pairs of six-panel pine screens by the artist are also held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York and the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

More Information

Documentation:	Signed
Period:	1900-1919
Creation Date:	1900
Styles / Movements:	Asian Art
Incollect Reference #:	814336

Dimensions

W.	149 in;	H.	67 in;
W.	378.46 cm;	H.	170.18 cm;

Message from Seller:

Kristan Hauge Japanese Art, based in Kyoto's museum district since 1999, specializes in important Japanese screens and paintings for collectors, decorators, and museums worldwide. Contact us at khauge@mx.bw.dream.jp or +81 75-751-5070 for exceptional access to Japanese art and history.