Title: Shukajoshi-shugacho (Ms. Shoka’s Study Book), 1898. A Female Nanga Artist’s Collection of Work, with Dozens of Beautiful Ink Wash Paintings, with Some Color Examples. In Four Handscrolls
Author: Shoka; Inscription from Kawabe Kakyo?
Condition: Very Good
A Meiji Period, late 19th century manuscript set of four eamkimono handscrolls entitled Shukajoshi-shugacho, or Ms. Shoka’s Study Book. As the title entails, the manuscripts are the collective of works by a female nanga artist, bound into four handscrolls. There are dozens of beautiful ink wash paintings, with numerous floral gatherings, animals, figures, and much more. There are quite a few paintings of various laborers, and some paintings in color as well.
The paintings have been laid down and bound in handscroll format, with four scrolls totalled. There is a wooden box accompanying the scrolls, preserving their contents.
Most importantly, there is an inscription to the top cover by a person named Kakyo, roughly translated: This scroll contains paintings that Shoka studied and created tirelessly from her youth. In 1898, the flower finally could bear no more and fell. Unable to bear the sorrow, I record this in her memory."
From the poetic wording, it is likely that the artist Shoka, passed away in 1898, and her painting master Kakyo, mounted her paintings into a scroll and inscribed these words in her memory. It is plausible that this master is Kawabe Kakyo, an artist active from the Late Edo to Early Showa Period.
Four emakimono handscrolls, 31.5 x 1216 cm; 31.5 x 1067 cm; 31.5 x 545.5 cm; 31.5 x 346 cm
These handscrolls are in very good shape, with minor rubbing and wear to two of the brocade covers, and heavy wear and worming to the two brocade covers on the larger handscrolls. There are a few sharp creases, and minor worm tracks scattered throughout.