[Untitled painting of a woman daydreaming]

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[Untitled painting of a woman daydreaming]

Hatori, Kozan [painted by].  

[Japan, ca. Taishō to early Shōwa period (1910-30s)?]. In manuscript.

A large (176 x 108.5 cm) painting of an exhausted woman daydreaming of a rough sea voyage as a butterfly flutters around her head. The artist, Hatori Kozan (1891-), studied under Kajita Hanko (1870-1917) and was an active illustrator of children's books, fiction works, book covers, and byōbu (folding screens). This hanging scroll by Kozan may be inspired by a passage from the ancient Chinese work Zhuangzi known as The Butterfly Dream:

"Once, Zhuang Zhou dreamed he was a butterfly, a butterfly flitting and fluttering about, happy with himself and doing as he pleased. He didn't know that he was Zhuang Zhou. Suddenly he woke up and there he was, solid and unmistakable Zhuang Zhou. But he didn't know if he was Zhuang Zhou who had dreamt he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming that he was Zhuang Zhou. Between Zhuang Zhou and the butterfly there must be some distinction! This is called the Transformation of Things".¹

A whimsical and beautifully expressive work by an under-appreciated artist.

Pigments on silk. Single-layered fabric mounting. Light browning, occasional foxing, and minor stains. Jiku knobs at base only. Artist's seal to lower right side. Mounting measures approx. 176 x 108.5 cm including wooden jiku at base; painting measures approx. 144 x 98.5 cm. 

1. Watson, Burton [1964]. Zhuangzi: Basic Writings (3rd ed.). New York: Columbia University Press.

[Untitled painting of a woman daydreaming]
Price: $6,480.00 (USD)