Title: A Cockfighting Scroll, Circa 1837-1853. Numerous Ink Drawings and Scenes of Commonfolk and Nobles Engaging in Cockfighting Matches, with Scenes of Rooster Battles, Capture, and More
Author: Attributed to Yamada Kosetsu; Previously Owned by Miyahara Suiun
Condition: Very Good
A Late Edo Period, mid 19th century emakimono handscroll, being one of Japanese Cockfighting, which was rather popular for centuries in both Japan and China.
There are numerous ink drawings and compositions throughout, of large groupings of various villagers and nobles, circled around prized roosters battling it out. There are also other scenes of hunting for roosters to use for battle, as well as captured ones being trained, and more. Many of the pictured figures have rather lively expressions.
The emakimono drawings have been attributed to Yamada Kosetsu (1817-1857), a Late Edo Period painter. Kosetsu was the son of Yamada Tosetsu, the latter serving as official painter of the Mikawa Yoshida Domain. After his father's death, he served the Yoshida Domain lords, Nobutaka and Shinsho. A disciple of Kano Shinsho, Kosetsu is said to have worked with his teacher on the renovation of the Nikko Mausoleum. He passed away at the age of 40.
The emakimono also bears the ownership stamp of Miyahara Suiun (? - ?), a Meiji-era Japanese painter and book collector. His given name was Ren, and he was a descendant of Miyahara Itsuhachi, a samurai of the Mikawa Tahara domain. After serving as a section chief in Hamamatsu Prefecture, he devoted himself to collecting antique calligraphy and writing in Tokyo. He also excelled in landscape painting, being a student of the Kishi school in Enshu.
The drawings have been laid down and bound in a scroll format for preservation, with a green cover, and there are small jikusaki (knobs) made of lacquered wood.
One emakimono (picture scroll) on washi paper, 44.8 x 695 cm
This emakimono is in very good shape, with minor wear and a few small worm tracks to the cover. There is minor wear and a few creases throughout, and a few, scattered worm tracks to the margins.