Artwork
Cicada on a String
Cicada on a String is an unspecified painting by the Rinpa school artist Shibata Zeshin. It dates from 1857 and is held in the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts.
About this work
Overview
Cicada on a String, created circa 1857 by Japanese artist Shibata Zeshin, is a painting on a hand fan, now part of the Detroit Institute of Arts collection.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is a brown cicada with visible wings, suspended from a thin red string, set against a graded gray to black background. The composition emphasizes the cicada and string, contrasting them with the subdued, monochromatic backdrop.
Technique & Style
Executed with meticulous care, the painting utilizes a varied color palette to achieve depth and texture, highlighting the artist's attention to detail in rendering the natural forms of the cicada and the simplicity of the fan's structure.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid-19th century, the work is attributed to Shibata Zeshin. Its current location is the Detroit Institute of Arts, though specific details of its acquisition history are not provided here.
Context
As a piece from the Edo period's tail end, it reflects traditional Japanese themes and mediums (hand fan as canvas), yet the focus on a solitary, suspended insect might also hint at the artist's unique perspective within his contemporaries.
Legacy
While specific influences or direct artistic lineage are not detailed here, the piece remains a notable example of Shibata Zeshin's work, potentially appealing to those interested in traditional Japanese art and the artist's broader oeuvre.
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Artist & collection
