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Seven Cranes

	Object Type	18th Century Japanese Scroll
	Artist	Jakuchu
	Period	Edo (18th century)
	Materials	painting on Silk
	Creation Date	ca 1760
	Dimensions	108.8 cm. x 49.4 cm. (42 7/8 in. x 19 1/2 in.)

Commentary

Twenty-five years after purchasing the "Meiji Seven Cranes," I found this painting. The dealer knew nothing about the previous painting.   Though the style is immature for a fully developed Jakuchu (meaning it must be very early in his career), it does answer so many questions about the copy. The painter of "Meiji Seven Cranes," a Rimpa-trained artist, obviously saw this painting and sketched it. When later reproducing the painting he was incapable of remembering Jakuchu's "style." The cranes do not fill up the space, being the same width but only about two-thirds the height. The white feathers are only outlines, whereas Jakuchu uses the color of the silk to give a roundness to the bodies. The legs in the copy are only a pattern, while the legs of this painting carry weight yet identical in design. The relaxed "fingers" hanging in air appear exactly as they would in life. Jakuchu expresses the essence of nature, while the copy is only a design. - JDP   Seven cranes conform an interesting organization; however, they lack Jakuchu's aggressive yet refined compositional skills. I would like to think of a different artist. Mr. Price thinks it is someone from the Rimpa school, which, I think, is most likely correct. At the left, signature "Shin'enkan Jakuchu sei," and seal "Tojokin in," and "Jakuchu koji." (Kono)