how to approach authentication p.9
Only the focus on the general and individual quality of a painting will allow us to also discuss paintings without a signature or seal. Often the individual manner of executing certain brushstrokes would enable us to attach this unsigned work to a name i n the case we could find the saame characteristic strokes in a different painting.
An interesting example is the fine set of Shouki and blue magpies.
This painting performs on a very high level of competence, especially in the figure composition with its great use of ink only. The unsealed set is, with the way the birds and plants are executed, pointing to the beginning of the 17th century. But while the bird paintings are not easily attributed to a certain hand the central painting of Shouki is coming with a very distinguished individual brushwork.
The main unique feature is the shape with which the outline strokes of the figure painting are started. They look often like a deep scoop and this is such a peculiar way to start a brush stroke that it would be found easily in another painting of this master with a comparable subject (a figure composition).
In the picture below this peculiar starting point of the brush can be seen in many strokes, smaler or bigger. More evidence for this individual mark in the brushwork is easily discovered by clicking through the slide show in the museum section.
In the picture below this peculiar starting point of the brush can be seen in many strokes, smaler or bigger. More evidence for this individual mark in the brushwork is easily discovered by clicking through the slide show in the museum section.