Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries

Hi,
I have what I was told is a Japanese art piece. It is ink on paper and depicts a gibbon and her baby hanging from a cherry tree. It is signed but I have no idea what it says. There is also a red seal(?). I'm hoping someone here can help me. I'd be so grateful! Thank you

I have trouble with deciphering the first character of the signature - the 2nd (also present in the seal) and 3rd read likely ..京筆 (?kyo hitsu).

Guy

I can't make out the first one either, but is 曾 a possibility?

I had a closer look to the seals on your painting and the one on from Christie's. They don't match; the outlines of the gourd shaped seal on your painting are much thinner and the seal is larger.

Presuming that the Christie's painting is genuine, your painting is probably a later 19th-20th century copy (not a forgery) in the Sino-Japanese tradition of copying works of art from famous artists of the past (honouring the old masters).

Guy.

Thank you so much for taking the time to research, you've been very helpful!

My pleasure.

You could label it as a painting 'after Kusumi Morikage'. Still, a nice item.

Guy

I finally could decipher the signature.

The artist is Kusumi Morikage (久隅守景, active c 1620–1690), here signing '守景筆' ('Morikage hitsu'), sealed 'Morikage'.

I refer to another painting of gibbons sold at Christies. This painting seems to bear the same seal.

Guy.

URL Title :Christie\'s NY 21 March 2012

well done!

Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries |