Toad and Mouse
by Getsuju
This rare Edo-period work by Getsuju brings image and inscription into a single dynamic composition. At its center sits a boldly painted toad, executed in sweeping black ink with a looseness the artist himself described as a “drunken brush.” The figure is both imposing and humorous, its rounded form balanced by the delicacy of the surrounding script.
The calligraphy tells a parable: a mouse, disguised in a monk’s robe, rails against his enemies, while the toad, cloaked in rags, declares a life free from desire beneath the temple hall. Chiding the mouse for clinging to petty concerns, the toad counsels purification of the mind. In this interplay of creature and text, Getsuju layers wit, moral reflection, and Zen sensibility.
Individually restored & edited, printed on fine art archival matte paper, this piece invites modern viewers to experience Getsuju’s unique blend of playfulness, moral teaching, and masterful brushwork.
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Description
by Getsuju
This rare Edo-period work by Getsuju brings image and inscription into a single dynamic composition. At its center sits a boldly painted toad, executed in sweeping black ink with a looseness the artist himself described as a “drunken brush.” The figure is both imposing and humorous, its rounded form balanced by the delicacy of the surrounding script.
The calligraphy tells a parable: a mouse, disguised in a monk’s robe, rails against his enemies, while the toad, cloaked in rags, declares a life free from desire beneath the temple hall. Chiding the mouse for clinging to petty concerns, the toad counsels purification of the mind. In this interplay of creature and text, Getsuju layers wit, moral reflection, and Zen sensibility.
Individually restored & edited, printed on fine art archival matte paper, this piece invites modern viewers to experience Getsuju’s unique blend of playfulness, moral teaching, and masterful brushwork.
