Animals of the Zodiac (pair with 2003/1.383.2) / Yoshikawa Kôkei
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About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 2003/1.383.1
- Title
- Animals of the Zodiac (pair with 2003/1.383.2)
- Artist
- Yoshikawa Kôkei
- Artist Nationality
- Japanese
- Artist Life Dates
- active 1920's
- Medium and Support
- one of a pair of six-fold screens, ink and color on silk
- Object Creation Date
- 1924
- Object Creation Place
- Asia (continent)
- Japan (nation)
- Creation Place 1
- Asia (continent)
- Creation Place 2
- Japan (nation)
- Inscription
- Signature of the artist: Kôkei
- Seals of the artist: Yoshikawa Yasushi in; Kôkei
- Date: Taishô 13 (=1934), on reverse
- Dimensions
- 170.2 cm x 374.6 cm (67 in. x 147 1/2 in.)
- Century
- 20th century
- Primary Object Classification
- Painting
- Primary Object Type
- screen
- Secondary Object Classification
- Painting
- Secondary Object Type
- ink painting
- Physical Description
- The animals are presented in zodiac sequence, from right to left: mouse, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, serpent, horse, goat, monkey, chicken, dog, and boar. The eight-fold screen allows the animals to seem to walk across the space. Negative space plays a significant role in the screen, creating a place for the animals to exist and at the same time extending into the room.
- Subject Matter
- The twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, who represent not only the sequence of years but also the times of the day and directions of the compass, have a history that dates back at least two thousand years. From China this calendrical system spread throughout East Asia, and it is still in use today despite the adoption of a Gregorian calendar and modern clocks.
- The minimal background of a few plants reinforces the concept of a natural cycle that moves through the seasons from spring (bamboo shoots and pinks) through autumn (chrysanthemums and pampas grass).
- Secondary Keywords
- animals and creatures
- descriptors
- design elements
- furnishings
- furnishings by form or function
- furniture
- furniture by form or function
- legendary creatures
- mammals
- motifs
- objects we use
- Rights
- If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/about/services/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Technical Details
- Collection
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- Image Size
- 2668 x 2562
- File Size
- 133 KB
- Record
- 2003/1.383.1
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-2003-sl-1.383.1/2003_1.383.1a.jpg
Rights and Permissions
Related Links
Portfolios
- In public portfolios
IIIF
- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:2003-SL-1.383.1:2003_1.383.1A.JPG
Cite this Item
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- Full citation
-
"Animals of the Zodiac (pair with 2003/1.383.2); Yoshikawa Kôkei." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-2003-sl-1.383.1/2003_1.383.1a.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 19, 2024.
