An artwork on Galleree from Minneapolis Institute of Art.
About the artwork
Badara (Bhadra), the Sixth of the Sixteen Arhats1850
Artist: Kano Kazunobu
Japanese, 1816 - 1863
seated figure wearing sumptuous purple, green, gold brocade robe; seated near center of image facing LR; holding string of gold rosary in both hands; exaggerated facial features, large eyebrows; several missing teeth; golden halo behind head; incense vessel and vase with flowers at PL; landscape of bamboo, a rock with cascading water, and a branch behind PR
46 3/16 × 20 7/16 in. (117.32 × 51.91 cm) (image)
78 1/4 × 25 1/2 in. (198.76 × 64.77 cm) (without roller)
Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk
hanging scroll
Japan
19th century
Gift of the Clark Center for Japanese Art & Culture
Under the gentle stroke of dawn's golden light, a quiet studio came alive with the spirit of creation. Within its walls, Kano Kazunobu, a revered painter of the Kano school, poured his heart and soul onto silk—his brush a wand weaving together ancient tales and vibrant colors. Each stroke was a meditation, a testament to the beauty of traditional Buddhist motifs that spoke of peace and inner strength.
Buddhist temples, the breathing heart of spiritual devotion, beckoned Kazunobu with grand commissions. It was here, beneath the watchful gaze of serene statues, that he truly blossomed. As the sun climbed higher in the sky, a message arrived from the Imperial Court, carrying with it the prestigious honor that would forever mark his place in history. In 1856, the court bestowed upon him the title "Hokkyō"—Bridge of the Law. In this moment, Kazunobu stood not just as a painter, but as a vital thread woven into the fabric of cultural heritage.
As his artistry evolved, so too did his techniques. He began to embrace the whispers of Western art—foreshortening danced into his creations, a new perspective emerging alongside time-honored traditions. Among this vibrant body of work was a striking set of sixteen figures known as "achievers," or rakan, an homage to the arhat of Sanskrit tradition. Their presence on the canvas breathed life into the stories of enlightenment and the pursuit of ultimate truth.
But this was just the beginning. These figures were a rare precursor, a bridge leading to his magnum opus—the monumental hanging scrolls of "Five Hundred Arhats." Commissioned by the revered Zōjōji Temple in Tokyo, this ambitious project promised to capture the essence of spiritual dedication in grandiose detail. Each scroll would invite the viewer to step into a world where every brushstroke narrated a story of resolute faith and the journey of the soul.
With each creation, Kazunobu united the past and present, crafting a legacy that resonated beyond time—a legacy that would continue to inspire hearts as it has for generations. In the delicate dance of brush and ink, he found a way to connect us all to the stories that shape our existence, a bridge woven from the threads of belief, artistry, and the profound quest for understanding.
About the artist
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