Antique Zen meditation portrait scroll, Japanese ink kakemono (kakejiku), Meiji–Taishō period #1802

“In deep stillness, the breath of mountains and water dissolves.”

Ink portrait of a seated sage in meditation. The brushwork is soft and confident, with natural variation in pressure — a gesture-driven approach characteristic of Zen painting, where inner clarity and direct expression take precedence over decorative detail.

The composition is minimal and contemplative: the figure is presented without background, allowing the viewer to rest on posture, presence, and quiet attention. The vertical inscription is written in a semi-cursive hand and conveys Zen poetic thought — calmness, clarity, and harmony with nature, where mountains and flowing water symbolize steadiness and movement.

The seal is interpreted as a monastic art-name associated with the idea of emptiness and clear mind, consistent with Zen artistic culture of the Meiji – Taisho period.

Style note: Semi-cursive Zen portrait tradition with literati influence — understated, spontaneous brush movement, focus on presence and inner state rather than external likeness.

Mounted as a traditional Japanese hanging scroll with textile borders and wooden roller.

Dimensions: approx. 41 × 195 cm (scroll format)

Condition: good for its age, with natural toning, light creases, and marks of time. No later cosmetic interventions; preserved with care.

Safe and tracked shipping from Latvia (Riga Gallery of Japanese Art CloudyYokomido).