Lotus Root and Rat

Shibata Zeshin (mentioned on object), 1817 - 1891

Shibata Zeshin was a successful lacquerer and print designer, as well as a painter. Here he created a simple, yet refined composition, with the tiny figure of the rat on the large lotus root. The animal’s fur is rendered with subtle brushwork, which like the colours and texture of the lotus root, was applied while the paper was still wet.

  • Artwork typehanging scroll
  • Object numberAK-RAK-2015-2-1
  • Dimensionsheight 112 cm x width 30.5 cm, height 200 cm x width 43.5 cm, height 7.5 cm x width 53 cm x depth 8 cm
  • Physical characteristicsinkt, ivoor, goudbrokaat, papier en linnen