Object Details
Artist
Shonen, Suzuki
Date
ca. 1907
Medium
Hanging scroll: ink, colors and gold on silk
Dimensions
Image: 43 3/8 × 16 3/4 inches (110.2 × 42.5 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Frederick Baekeland for the Frank and Rosa Rhodes Collection
Object
Number
94.014.003
The most successful of the artist Suzuki Hyakunen’s sons, Shonen studied primarily with his father(…)
The most successful of the artist Suzuki Hyakunen’s sons, Shonen studied primarily with his father and then developed his own approach. In contrast to his father’s reserved style, Shonen painted in a forceful manner with bold strokes and demonstrated bravura techniques in his handling of ink tonalities ranging from the lightest to most saturated. This set of paintings pairs Hattara and Handaka, two of the sixteen arhats, or disciples of Buddha who serve as guardians of his teachings (dharma). Hattara is shown with his tiger and holds a short wand that represents the powers of faith. The seated Handaka looks up to watch the dragon he has just released from his begging bowl.
