jason_mazzy Posted April 27, 2010 Report Posted April 27, 2010 http://cgi.ebay.com/A972-Japanese-OLD-h ... 4ceef219c8 odd art topic.......
cspage Posted April 27, 2010 Report Posted April 27, 2010 I'm not in any way an expert in Japanese art, but I don't get that there's a particular sense of humor in this painting. Procreation is an art subject that is as old as the hills and there are several aspects of this particular painting that seem to impart a fairly direct hommage to the act of making life. One is the expressions on the animals' faces, definitely not humorous but rather an intensity of purpose. The overall composition, the weight and impact of the joined bodies against the lightly rendered plantlife and negative space surrounding the positive object, the obvious coloration differentiating the two animals, points to a considertion of the subject matter that has substance. I rather like this piece and might hang it in my living room if someone gave it to me, not that I see it as a spetacular piece of artwork. I do see the message as a pretty positive one. Of course, trying to evaluate the intent of any given human being by just observation of their artwork is always fraught with pitfalls and I may be totally off base. Why someone would think this is "funny" is a whole subject in itself and I don't think we want to go there...or do we? Colin
jason_mazzy Posted April 27, 2010 Author Report Posted April 27, 2010 I will agree to disagree with you. Like a rorschach people see different things. I guess when I think of ancient samurai and warring tribes, 2 dogs breeding don't pop in my head. And as a comedian type of person, i see this as the man just trying to have fun.
cspage Posted April 27, 2010 Report Posted April 27, 2010 No warring tribes 150 years ago...in Japan (well, there may be that one instance). In the American west, however...but that's a different story. I was also tempted to introduce the treacherous postulation that animals copulating as something humerous might be related to "Western" influence, but being beheaded is not in my life plan. Colin
Nobody Posted April 28, 2010 Report Posted April 28, 2010 I think that the motif is called Mutsumi-inu (和合犬 – harmonized dogs?). The motif suggests prayers for a safe birth and/or conjugal harmony. It was not necessarily connected to samurai.
jason_mazzy Posted April 28, 2010 Author Report Posted April 28, 2010 that is a nice piece. almost reverent
Henry Wilson Posted April 28, 2010 Report Posted April 28, 2010 almost reverent What are you talking about?
Brian Posted April 28, 2010 Report Posted April 28, 2010 Thank you Moriyama san for putting this in perspective and once again teaching us a valuable cultural lesson. Much appreciated. Brian
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