Squirrels and Grapevine

Painted in ink on paper, this hanging scroll represents an upside-down, U-shaped, old grapevine with two squirrels sporting amongst the fruiting branches. The grapevine comprises four intertwined, leafy stalks that enter the composition in the lower left corner, diagonally traverse the composition, rise along the right edge, make a U-turn at the top, and then extend down the left edge. Numerous bunches of ripe grapes hang from the vines. In the upper left corner of the painting one squirrel nibbles on a grape, while another squirrel in the lower right corner looks up toward the first. Neatly framed all around by the grapevine, the artist's inscription and signature appear at the very center of the composition.