Japanese Fine Art
Welcome to our website for Japanese art. We would like to invite you to discover our collection of fine antique works of art, ranging from screen paintings and hanging scroll to traditional ceramics, elegant lacquer works, exceptional sculptures and intricately woven bamboo flower baskets. All of our objects are unique masterpieces carefully selected by the gallerist and art historian Dr. Fabian Alexander Kommoss for their historical significance and outstanding quality. Galerie Kommoss is a leading gallery for fine Japanese art in Europe.
Why Japanese Art?
Refined elegance and astonishing craftsmanship on one side, and rough, coarse-looking ceramics that seem to have been created by nature itself on the other, the wide spectrum of Japanese art is fascinating and never monotonous. In fact, the opposite is true: Whether you look at the more popular and immediately appealing images of a Hokusai, the serene beauty of Japanese Buddhist sculpture, or the often complex aesthetic programs of traditional tea culture, the deeper you delve into the complex images, often subtly imbued with metaphorical meaning or humor, the more exciting it gets. What makes Japanese art so attractive to us is its pervasive characteristic of understanding the natural world as a source of spiritual insight and an instructive mirror of human emotion.
Tigers in Japanese Art
The tiger, a symbol of strength, courage, and leadership, holds a revered place in Japanese art. Often depicted in dynamic natural landscapes like bamboo groves and mountains, the tiger represents not only physical power but also the ideal of balance and harmony. It is seen as a guardian, embodying the connection between authority and peace. In Japanese art, the tiger is frequently associated with the concept of Yin and Yang, symbolically paired with the dragon, its unseen counterpart. Together, these creatures govern the forces of nature—wind and water—representing a harmonious balance of cosmic energy. Through vivid depictions of the tiger, Japanese artists capture both the majesty of the animal and the deeper cultural values of strength, balance, and serenity.
Object of the Month
Our Object of the Month is a tanzaku poem slip by Ōtagaki Rengetsu (1791–1875), written with her fluid and elegant brushstrokes. The poem, First Frost, reflects the serene onset of a winter’s night. Rengetsu captures an introspective moment as plovers cry along the Kamo River, mist rises from the riverbank, and frost gathers on her sleeves under the setting moon.
The tanzaku, made of paper sprinkled with cut-leaf silver, adds an additional layer of meaning. The shimmering reflections of the silver evoke the softly glittering hoarfrost under the light of a full moon, enhancing the poem’s delicate imagery. This evocative interplay of text and material celebrates the transient beauty of nature and invites us to embrace its quiet moments of contemplation.
