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Eagle on a Snowy Rock

	Object Type	18th Century Japanese Scroll
	Artist	Jakuchu
	Period	Edo (18th century)
	Materials	Sumi on Silk
	Creation Date	1800
	Dimensions	102 cm. x 41 cm. (40 1/8 in. x 16 1/8 in.)

Commentary

Bold claws solidly grasp the snow laden rock while piercing eyes shine out at the viewer. The ferocity of the large eagle as he adjusts his feathers is perfectly realized. Jakuchu's characteristic texture strokes shape the rock while a large hole gapes through it. It loses any semblance to a natural rock form as it juts into the sky like a tree trunk. Beneath the rock the small waves seen in "Shellfish" of the "Doshoku sai-e" series have been transformed into large billowy waves. They strike the stylized rock and rise in a spray. Here in this painting, just as in the "Mandarin Ducks Amid Snow-Covered Reeds," there is an interactive relationship between the subject imbued with reality and its surrealistic surrounding filled with tension.   The background is completely brushed in an ink wash which emphasizes the whiteness of the rock and waves. Against this, the contrast of the black eagle becomes even more distinct and amplifies the dynamism of the picture plane. One can sense Jakuchu's keen concern for form. Moreover, as the eagle's beak and the edge of its wing touches the outer border near the very center of the painting, the picture plane is completely filled. A magnification of the subject due to the exaltation of volitional form is found in this work, a treatment similar to that used in the "Doshoku sai-e" series.   The image is signed at the far left, "Painted by Old Man Beito, age eighty-five." This is followed by two seals, a square intaglio reading "To Jokin-in" and a round relief reading "Jakuchu koji." These are the same signature and seals found on the painting "Fushimi Dolls of Seven Hotei," and likewise this painting is a work from the last year of Jakuchu's life (1800). The painting speaks for the fact that even as Jakuchu reached the last years of his life, he did not lose any of his creative will. Jakuchu's spirit of childlike innocence and his keen sense of form congeal in "Fushimi Dolls of Seven Hotei" and "Eagle on a Snowy Rock" respectively. The fact that these are both works of his last year is very contemplative indeed. - Kono   This painting disproves one of the dealers' three favorite excuses for a lousy painting; young, old, and drunk (the Keiwa painting of "Grapevines" takes care of "young"). Here in his 85th year, he paints one of his most powerful paintings - and it is sumi on silk. At this advanced age, he shows absolute confidence in his ability and a daring in this composition which goes beyond a simple exploration of skill. Professor Tsuji told me that he felt this was Jakuchu's last painting, that the artist knew he was dying and this was probably a self-portrait peering off into the unknown. It is my favorite Jakuchu. - JDP