Japanese Scroll Depicting Bows & Arrows

A bow, a handful of arrows, and a great deal of white space.

This hanging scroll from Okayama Prefecture, Japan, was drawn in ink on paper in the mid 20th century. Archery has long been a respected discipline in Japan, and pictures of the bow are commonly kept as reminders of its form. A long curved bow is drawn in fine brush lines, with arrows crossing it at an angle and small columns of calligraphy running beside. The paper is cream and lightly aged. It is mounted with a soft green-gold brocade border and wooden rollers at the ends.

About 72 inches tall and 15 wide. Quiet on the wall, and it doesn’t need a spotlight to be taken seriously.