Title: A Late Edo to Taisho Period Painting Album, Circa 1850-1924. Ten Beautiful Silk Paintings and Two Pieces of Calligraphy by Celebrated Artists, Including One of the Founders of Nihonga Painting. Landscapes, Animals, and More
Author: Attributed to Yasuda Yukihiko; Watanabe Seitei; Onuma Makurayama; Higashikuze Michitomi; And Others
Condition: Very Good
A Late Edo to Taisho Period, mid 19th to early 20th century painting album, attributed to numerous artists of the periods, with names such as Yasuda Yukihiko, Watanabe Seitei, Onuma Makurayama, Higashikuze Michitomi, and others, bearing their seals and signatures.
There are ten beautiful full-page paintings done in various Southern School and Nihonga styles, all lovingly produced on silk with various painting techniques, most being in color, of various landscapes and animals, as well as various figures, including one warrior. There are also two additional examples of beautiful calligraphy, produced on silk as well.
Of the identified artists, is the following information:
Yasuda Yukihiko (1884-1978) was born in Nihonbashi, the fourth son of a Japanese restaurant owner. Initially he studied Tosa school painting at the Tōkyō Bijutsu Gakkō under Kobori Tomoto, but had his talents recognized, and was sent to Nara to study classical Yamato-e painting styles. From 1914, he aided Yokoyama Taikan in re-establishing the Japan Fine Arts Academy and was known primarily for his paintings on historical themes, and occasionally for portraiture or bird-and-flower paintings. He is also regarded as one of the founders of the Japanese painting technique of nihonga.
Watanabe Seitei (1852-1918) was born in Edo with the given name Yoshikawa Yoshimata, later being adopted by the family of his father's literary friend, Watanabe Mitsue, and taking up that family name. He studied under the artists Kikuchi Yōsai as well as Shibata Zeshin. In 1878, he travelled to the US and Europe, becoming the first Nihonga artist to live in Europe with the aim of studying Western painting. Upon his return, he began a critically acclaimed career, producing numerous paintings and illustrations, as well as designs for ceramics, and also edited and contributed to the art magazine Bijutsu Sekai. He became a major inspiration to the following generation of Nihonga artists
Onuma Makurayama (1818-1891) was a Chinese poet from the late Edo period to the early Meiji period. Among his accomplishments included the opening of a poetry school called Shitaya Ginsha, and he remained active as a central figure in the Late Edo poetry world.
Higashikuze Michitomi (1835-1912) was a Japanese nobleman, politician, and tea master from the late Edo period to the Meiji period. He was one of the sonno joi (revere the emperor, expel the barbarians) nobles who fled to Choshu after being exiled as of result of the Shichikyo-ochi incident. After the restoration of the monarchy, he served as Governor-General of Foreign Affairs and handled diplomatic negotiations for the newly established new government.
The paintings have been finely bound in album format with blue brocade covers, decorated with trailing gilt floral designs.
One silk painting album in orihon format (36.5 x 29.8 cm), 26 leaves
This album is in very good shape, with minimal rubbing and wear to the covers. One of the leaves has split. There is minor foxing and spotting to a few of the paintings and calligraphy, though the pieces are largely unaffected.