A Hand Painted Hemp Noren: Sumi-e and Transparent Hemp Mesh
ca. mid twentieth century
60" x 36", 152.5 cm x 91.5 cm
This is a three panel noren or traditional door covering/ room divider, which is made from very sheer, soft, lightweight, mesh-like woven hemp. The base cloth is undyed asa which is a kind of pale wheat color; the noren is completely hand stitched.
When seen against the light, this noren is extremely translucent. It is a kind of veil of hemp cloth and it will not provide a great deal of privacy if this would be the intention for acquiring it.
Across the three panels which comprise the noren is a hand painted landscape; the picture is done is pale grey tones, and the scene is rendered broadly. The right hand foreground shows a hillside cottage; the left hand shows what seems to be some kind of mountain pass. In the distance, painted in very pale tones of sumi or charcoal based ink, are mountains, which are depicted to appear to be receding into the distance.
In good condition, this noren is a lovely, elegant thing, and in the right setting can prove to be a delicate, almost ethereal, mood.