Sound of Waves (Tosei)
Date1901
Maker
Tsuji Kako
Japanese, 1870 - 1931
Label TextIn this pair of striking golden screens, a fierce eagle with its wings widely open perches on a rugged rock on the seashore, overpowering the choppy waves below. The visual impact was amplified by the stunning golden background, against which the eagle was depicted in dark ink. The eagle is an auspicious motif in Japan, as the Japanese word for “eagle” (taka) is a homophone with a word that has felicitous meanings, such as “noble.” Kako painted this auspicious picture during the New Year's holiday in 1901.
Object number98.45.1
Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Flights of Fancy: Natural and Supernatural Images In Japanese Art, Dec. 9, 1998 - Aug. 1, 1999.
Seattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Boundless: Stories of Asian Art, Feb. 8, 2020 - ongoing [on view July 16 - Dec. 5, 2021].Credit LineGift of Henry and Mary Ann James
Dimensions67 5/16 x 144 in. (171 x 366 cm)
MediumInk and color on gold paper
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