Currently not on view
Calligrapher and Attendants
Ganku 岸駒, 1749 or 1756–1839
Japanese
Edo period, 1603–1868
y1946-85
Ganku was a noted artist of the late Edo period and is perhaps best known for his paintings of tigers. By 1780 he had established himself as an artist in Kyoto and was attracting patrons who included members of the imperial family. His painting workshop drew many apprentices, several of whom became noted painters. In this small painting, done with sketchy brushstrokes and light ink washes, a calligrapher sits before a piece of paper or silk and wields his brush. One attendant secures the top of the sheet, while another assistant sits behind the calligrapher.
Information
Title
Calligrapher and Attendants
Maker
Medium
sheet; ink on silk
Dimensions
Painting: 12.1 x 45.5 cm. (4 3/4 x 17 15/16 in.)
Mount: 40.4 x 53.8 cm. (15 7/8 x 21 3/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Frank Jewett Mather Jr.
Object Number
y1946-85
Place Made
Asia, Japan
Signatures
Signed left: 越前介岸駒
“Echizen no suke Ganku”
[Ganku was made the assistant governor of Echizen (Echizen-no-suke越前介) in 1805]
Marks/Labels/Seals
Artist, “Kakan Ganku” 可観岸駒, square intaglio (or paired half seals?), bottom left
Description
With attendants behind and in front, a man holds a brush over a horizontal sheet of paper with the character for “long life” (kotobuki 壽) already written near the top.
Culture
Period
Materials
Subject
