Mori Sosen “Monkey and Bee”

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IItem No.	J280
Title	“Monkey and Bee”／Ink on paper
Overall size	180.0cm×37.2cm
Artwork size	88.8cm×26.1cm
Artist	By Mori Sosen
Date Created	1747～1821
Price	￥15,000,000（excluding tax）

　A monkey looks up at a bee in the foreground. Sosen is famous for his detailed “hair drawing,” but in this work, he skillfully utilizes the rubbing of the ink. While showing the vigor of his brush strokes, he is conscious of the monkey’s skeletal structure and the way its hair grows. In addition, the thick hairs are drawn with dark ink lines, while the face is lightly colored.
　At first glance, the work appears rough, but in fact, the careful layering of brush strokes has resulted in a monkey with a vital life force.

　Mori Sosen (1747-1821) was a painter active mainly in Osaka and the founder of the Mori school. His paintings of animals, especially monkeys and boars, are well known, and an exhibition focusing on the Mori school will be held at the Osaka Museum of History in 2020, attracting increasing attention.

As an antique, it may have some scratches or blemishes. We recommend that you visit our store to check the condition.
If you wish, we will send you detailed photos of the item, so please feel free to contact us.