Copyright ©2020 Shirakura Gallery - Kyoto, Japan. All Rights Reserved.

Shirakura Gallery

  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
  • SERVICES
  • GUEST BOOK
Copyright ©2020 Shirakura Gallery - Kyoto, Japan. All Rights Reserved.

Shirakura Gallery

Nanga Painting by Tomita Keisen

Author: info@shirakuragallery.com
  • Artist: Tomita Keisen
  • Price: ¥200,000
  • Era: Taisho
  • Author: info@shirakuragallery.com

Japanese Nihonga painting on paper—this piece by well-known Meiji/ Taisho artist Tomita Keisen depicts an idealized mountain scene in Keisen’s distinctive style. Close inspection reveals a mountain temple nestled along the cliffs overlooking twin waterfalls. Meanwhile, master and student traverse a mountain path below on their way back to the hermitage.

Keisen was trained in classical painting and was well-versed in the Kano and Shijo school traditions. Despite his classical roots, he strove to develop his own unique style of painting. While many of Keisen’s mature works are done in the traditional nan-ga and kacho-ga styles, generally his painting technique strove to avoid what he considered prescribed and uninspired motifs—favoring instead free-form sketching techniques with subjects gleaned from his travels and observations of everyday life.

In fine antique condition, this hanging scroll is 188 cm tall and 49 cm wide with the artwork being 125cm x 36 cm. Signed and sealed by Keisen, it comes housed in a period wood box with the words “Old Master of the Mountain Hermitage Among the Pine Trees” on the cover; while on the reverse side is the year of production (7th year of Taisho), an explanation of the painting, and Keisen’s signature and seal. (examples of Keisen’s signatures and seals available upon request).

Related Posts

Edo Period 6-Panel Folding Screen

Edo Period 6-Panel Folding Screen

Sumi, color, and and gofun on gilded paper. This piece done in the early Edo period features two rabbits frolicking in a sunny floral pasture. The flowers in this composition are particularly striking and emanate a soft radiance due to the use of a gofun treatment in which a white pigment made from high quality oyster shells is applied to the canvas. A classic naturalistic landscape, the rabbits in the foreground are rendered in such a way as to suggest movement while the hills floating in the background add extra dimensions to the composition. [Sold]

Hanging Scroll by Ōtagaki Rengetsu

Hanging Scroll by Ōtagaki Rengetsu

Sumi, color, gofun, and gold flecks on paper. In addition, this piece contains a unique woodblock print technique that utilizes gofun, a ground oyster shell treatment. As a result, the forest sprites featured in this piece are hidden to the viewer until viewed from the right perspective.The inscribed poem is done in the waka style and reads, “A twig broken is a sin, here at Togano’o… so permit me, some fallen leaves, O guardians of these autumn hills.” [Sold]

Hanging Scroll with Ensō by Reigen Eto

Hanging Scroll with Ensō by Reigen Eto

Sumi on paper. A fine ensō drawn by Reigen Eto, one of the most prominent disciples of Hakuin. It is said that Reigen was known for his delicate brush strokes and works that displayed a profound empathy with nature. [Sold]

Hanging Scrolls by Baisen Hirai (1889 – 1969)

Hanging Scrolls by Baisen Hirai (1889 – 1969)

This masterful rendition of an idilic landscape done in the Nanga style of Chinese painting is spread across three canvases titled 1) “Arashiyama” (A district nestled at the foot of Kyoto’s eastern mountain range), 2) “Kyomizu-dera” (One of Kyoto’s most iconic temples located in the western foothills), and 3) “Tatsuta” (An area west of Kyoto on the edge of Lake Biwa, known for its expansive fields of lotus flowers). These three actual places are used as the inspiration for this fanciful interpretation that is expressed through a classical Chinese painting style.