Title: Makimono Kachō-zu (Scroll Painting of Flowers and Birds), 1914. A Beautiful, Craft Printed Handscroll of Numerous Ink Wash Paintings, being High Quality Copies after Two Major Artists
Author: Kano Tan'yū; Shokadō Shōjō
Condition: Very Good
An Early Taisho Period, early 20th century printed handscroll, dubbed Makimono Kachō-zu, or Scroll Painting of Flowers and Birds. As the title would entail, the handscroll contains extremely high-quality reproductions of famous ink wash paintings and compositions by the artists Kano Tan'yū (1602-1674) and Shokado Shojo (1584-1639). There are numerous naturescapes, animals, and more, all displayed in vivid detail.
Kano Tan'yū was a painter from the Early Edo Period. The founder of the Kajibashi Kano School, and a native of Kyoto, his given name was Morinobu. He was Kano Takanobu's eldest son and Kano Eitoku's grandson. At a young age he went to Edo and very quickly became an official painter for the shogunate. In contrast to the grand and extravagant style of the Momoyama period, he created a style of painting that was simple and elegant, and built the foundation for the prosperity of the Edo Kano School. In 1662, he was appointed Hoin, the highest rank for a painter. Four years later, he was involved in the creation of a longevity portrait of Emperor Mizuo and was bestowed the seal of "Fudemine Daikoji" by the Emperor.
Shokado Shojo was the head priest of Takimotobo at Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine in Kyoto, establishing the Shokado and Takimoto Schools of calligraphy. He is one of the three great calligraphers of the Kan'ei period, along with Hon'ami Koetsu and Konoe Nobutada. He was also rather experienced at painting and the tea ceremony and is known for his ink painting "Chickens and Grapes." He passed away at the age of 56.
The paintings have been laid down and bound in a scroll for preservation, with a beautiful brocade decorated cover of gold and jagged designs, and there are jikusaki (knobs) made of lacquered wood. The handscroll is enclosed in a wooden box.
One brocade bound printed emakimono (picture scroll) on paper, roughly 31 x 751.5 cm. The knobs are not included as part of the measurements.
This emakimono is in very good shape, with minimal rubbing and wear to the decorated cover. The scroll has been produced to imitate all of the original staining, but there does appear to be some actual spotting and minor soiling to the upper and lower margins at times. Some of the divisional sections of leaves have split here and there.