Monkeys with Japanese Rosehips (Translation)
荊実猿図 江戶時代 森狙仙 絹本著色 (Primary Title)

Mori Sosen 森狙仙, Japanese, 1747–1821 (Artist)

early 19th century
Japanese
Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk
Place Made,Asia,Japan
Image: 41.14 x 14 in. (104.5 x 35.5 cm)
Mount: 72.8 x 18.7 in. (185 x 47.5 cm)
2023.12
Not on view

In the East Asian culture, monkeys are associated with Zen Buddhism for their intuition and wisdom. Best known for his depiction of monkeys, Mori Sosen shows on this scroll an adult grooming an infant on a cliff. The intricate hair and lively expressions of the monkeys reveal the realistic style of the Maruyama-Shoji School of painting. Based on the artist’s seal and signature, this work was most likely created by Sosen in his 60s.

Shijo School 四条派
Edo period (1615-1868)
Signed at bottom right corner of image: 祖仙 [Sosen]
Two artist's seals: 守 shu, 象 sho
None
Adolph D. and Wilkins C. Williams Fund
See the Published References

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