Title: Shugacho (Painting Practice), Circa 1840-1870. Manuscript Sketchbook by a Japanese Painter of the Late Edo to Early Meiji Period. Hundreds of Copied Illustrations and Original Subjects, including Reproductions from Hokusai’s Manga
Author: Suzuki Keizan
Condition: Good
A Late Edo Period, mid to late 19th century manuscript entitled Shugacho, or Painting Practice. As the name would entail, this manuscript is packed with countless illustrations, with 175 pages of sketches and ink wash paintings, with bonus examples pasted in, and additional illustrations to the covers and endpapers. Every single piece and page of this manuscript has seen some level of use, and the artist made sure to pack in as much as he physically could.
Subjects of the illustrations include lush flora and fauna (which are typical sumi-e subjects), as well as numerous individuals and countless creatures such as birds, dogs, and other wildlife, with additional illustrations of mythical creatures such as dragons and at least one phoenix. Many of these are likely rough copies of early paintings, and there are several that appear to be copies directly from the famed Hokusai Manga series.
The author and artist of this manuscript is one Suzuki Keizan, a Japanese painter from the late Edo to Early Meiji period, though little is known about his career.
One manuscript in quarto (26 x 20 cm), 175 pages
This manuscript is in very good shape, with some wear and old staining to the overs. There is some scattered staining throughout. Two leaves of illustrations were crudely torn out at some point. Some of the washi paper layers have split, which is not an uncommon sight.