Japanese Shikishi Ink Painting – “Sugi Sanki” Calligraphy with Barley – Taisho–Early Showa Era – Kachō-ga

Refined Japanese shikishi ink painting depicting barley heads (mugi), accompanied by elegant calligraphy.
The inscription reads “Sugi Sanki” (杉三喜) – Three Joys of Cedar – the art-name (gō) of the artist. Sugi (杉) here is a poetic surname, while San (三, three) and Ki (喜, joy) express harmony and fulfillment.

Barley (mugi) holds special meaning in Japanese culture – it symbolizes fertility, nourishment, and the promise of a good harvest. In pre-war art, it was also associated with perseverance and quiet growth, values esteemed in both rural and urban life.

The composition blends botanical kachō-ga minimalism with expressive brush calligraphy, balanced by a large cinnabar seal (20×20 mm) in the upper right corner reading “Sugi Sanki In” (Seal of Sugi Sanki). Such a seal size and placement are characteristic of Taisho–early Showa works (c. 1925–1940). The piece is mounted on an older handmade shikishi board – washi laminated on thick card – showing natural foxing from age.

Size: approx. 24 × 27 cm.

Secure shipping from Latvia (Riga Gallery of Japanese Art CloudyYokomido).

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