COLLECTION DETAILS

An elephant, painted from the front, filling the entire frame. It is a bold composition which gives the long, narrow surface a surprising and unexpected twist. The method of filling in the background with ink to make the elephant stand out without adding color is effective; it is speculated that the effects of taku-hanga (“rubbing prints”) were applied to the hand-painted work. The style may look simple, but its meticulous and thoughtful use of light and dark ink can be seen. Points such as the expression of the back with just three curved lines are abstract and fascinating. From the signature and seal, we learn that the piece was made in Jakuchu’s mid-70s. In 1728, an actual elephant was brought to Japan at the behest of the eighth shogun, Tokugawa Yoshimune. It is said that the following year, it was walked from Nagasaki to Edo. 14-year-old Jakuchu likely saw the elephant himself in Kyoto. In this piece, the memory of the elephant, just as he may have seen it, is painted with such impact that it would seem to jump out from the tatami-sized gasenshi (a type of paper used for ink painting and calligraphy). Along with his famous masterpieces Birds, Animals and Flowering Plants in Imaginary Scene and Birds and Animals in the Flower Garden, only five pieces featuring Jakuchu’s front-facing elephant can be confirmed at present. This piece is a rare example.