[K0138] Kano Tsunenobu (1636–1713) / One Hundred Cranes and One Hundred Monkeys, a Pair of Hanging Scrolls

Remarks: With an inscribed attribution box; staining, discoloration, and tears A pair of bird-and-flower and animal paintings attributed to Kano Tsunenobu, a leading painter of the Kano school during the early Edo period. One scroll depicts numerous monkeys playing among rocky mountains and trees, while the other shows a flock of cranes gathered around pine trees, creating a grand composition in which movement and stillness complement one another. In the title One Hundred Cranes and One Hundred Monkeys, “one hundred” signifies not only abundance in number but also the richness of life and prosperity. The dignified cranes, symbols of longevity, are paired with monkeys shown in a variety of lively poses, forming an auspicious traditional subject. This theme was passed down within the Kano school and repeatedly depicted by later artists. Kano Tsunenobu succeeded as the second head of the Kobikicho branch of the Kano family and served as an official painter to the Tokugawa shogunate. He studied under his uncle, Kano Tanyu, and participated in numerous official commissions, including paintings for the Imperial Palace. After Tanyu’s death, he became a central figure in the Edo Kano school. He studied classical paintings and sketching from life, developing a gentle and refined style that retained Tanyu’s influence while increasing its decorative quality. The Tokyo Fuji Art Museum regards him, alongside Motonobu, Eitoku, and Tanyu, as one of the “Four Great Masters of the Kano School.”