19th Century Signed Scroll Painting Depicting Daruma Founder of Zen

Seal on lower right reads: I'nen. Beautiful and delicate Rimpa painting using tarashikomi (painting-in) technique of wet on wet painting. Painted in a style reminiscent of the famous...

Artist: Tatematsu kiseki Born in the forest home of Nagoya gun-cho, it inherits the later Tatematsu house. Learn to Okumura Ishiran. Later the director of Seiho meeting was studied with Kono Bairei-Seiho Takeuchi...

Oil on arched canvas, a young prince sits with an elderly sage on a carpeted terrace, an open book between them and more piled up before them, a small pearl-studded box in the foregr...

Birds and flowers of the four seasons Early to mid-19th century Ink, pigment and gofun on silk Unidentified artist Signature: S...

Bamboo in moonlight Gamo Rakan (1784-1866) Hanging scroll, ink on silk. Dimensions: Scroll: 201 cm x 58 cm Image: 137 cm x 45 cm In this early 19th century work by Gamo Rakan a light ink wash applied to the silk background silhouettes the moon and suggests the atmosphere of early evening. Even though it is a literati subject, Rakan’s bamboo is quite realistic with a strong decorative style. The painting finds its inspiration from Chinese Ming dynasty painters who often used a single-tone, jet black stroke to emphasize the calligraphic nature of bamboo. In a different era, decorative would have been seen as somewhat unrefined. But increasingly in the Edo period, it was the hallmark of high style. The Japanese people, in particular the rising merchant class, had gradually become apathetic toward the traditional Sesshu and Kano schools of painting. Chinese professional and amateur painters living in the port of Nagasaki during the 18th century had a profound effect on Japanese painting and the freshness of their style and its decorative appeal contributed greatly to its popularity. Gamo Rakan’s teacher, Tani Buncho...

A fabulous landscape by Kogyo Terasaki 1866-1919 Japan painter. Akita prefecture production. Character is Tokusato, Soyama-Agaryunoki, beautiful poetry Yamabito, etc. to another is...

Anonymous Japanese painter (MEIJI PERIOD, LATE 19TH CENTURY) Portrait of Takeaki Enomoto (1836-1908) Ink, color and go fun on silk, framed. Painting: 79.5 x 50 cm With fram...

A Japanese hanging scroll or Kakejiku, circa 1890, depicting bamboo grass and a rabbit, framed by top and bottom ribbons of brocade silk. In ...

Chinese Pheasants Yoshizawa Setsuan (1809-1889) Hanging scroll, ink and color on silk. Painting inscription: Setsuan Houyou Upper seal: Y...

Poppies & Butterflies Ink, pigment and gofun on silk Igarashi Chikusa (1774-1844) Signature: Chikusa Ran Zen Upper Seal: Ran Shuzen Lower Seal: Kyoho Dimensions: Scroll: H. 68” x W. 18” (172cm x 45cm) Image: H. 38.5’’ x W. 12.5’’ (98cm x 32cm) This composition shows elegant images of poppies and the butterflies that are inevitably drawn to them. It captures a momentary glimpse into a world both visually dazzling and startlingly realistic. The painting is infused with sensitivity and attention to seasonal change and weather conditions. The thin and fragile poppies are beautifully depicted with brilliant colors and the butterflies are similarly infused with life. The painting is on silk which requires extremely precise painting skills as no element once painted can be removed. Poppies were a favorite subject of Rinpa school artists through the ages. Originally they were somewhat abstracted but by the age of Sakai Hoitsu...