Old Monkey by Takamura Koun - Prewar Japanese Photograph of Sculpture, 1912-1930s

Historical Japanese photograph of Old Monkey (Rōen), a wooden sculpture created in 1893 by Takamura Koun (1852-1934) during the Meiji period. The sculpture depicts an old monkey seated on a rock after a confrontation with an eagle, holding feathers left behind by the escaping bird.

Takamura Koun was one of Japan's leading sculptors of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and an important figure in the development of modern Japanese sculpture. His work combined traditional Japanese woodcarving with realistic observation of nature. Old Monkey is among his most celebrated works. The sculpture was exhibited at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893, where it received an award.

Today, the sculpture belongs to the collection of the Tokyo National Museum (inventory number C-232) and is designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan.

The photograph is accompanied by an original Japanese handwritten catalog card identifying the artist, subject, material, year of creation, and the sculpture's location in the collection of the former Tokyo Imperial Museum. The card provides additional documentary evidence of the historical cataloging of Japanese art.

The photograph is attributed to the prewar Taisho–early Showa period (1912-1930s). It comes from a private Japanese collection of historical photographs documenting significant works of Japanese art and cultural heritage.

Size (approx.): 10 × 15 cm.

Condition: Vintage condition, with age-related wear and signs of storage.

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