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Herewith (link) are nine images, three each of separate Japanese scrolls. I took on the effort to sort out their particulars on behalf of a friend who thinks my experience in Chinese language means I also ought to be able to translate Tales of Genji without a dictionary. Actually, I was lucky to find a British Museum translation on which to base my reading of the kanji cited below. I’d much appreciate validation or corrections of my assumptions.

Two of the scrolls obviously (to me at least) seem not to be very old, probably mid-20th century, and to be by an anonymous artist or artists, with attribution to a famous painter of the Tosa School, Tosa Mitsusada (1738-1806). Their images start with the photo appearing third among those in my online folder. I checked Google and found various versions of both paintings in different qualities and brushwork styles that had sold for unexciting sums around the internet in recent times. Both of these scrolls came in the same Paulownia wood box with the following inscription on top:

土佐守光貞筆鶴龜圖 雙幅, transcribed as Tosa no-Kami Mitsusada Fude Tsuru Game Ga Sou Fuku, and translatable as “Two scroll paintings of cranes and turtles from the brush of Tosa Director Mitsusada”

The inscriptions on the two scroll paintings both are the same in kanji:

畫所預徒四位上土佐守藤原光貞, transcribed by the British Museum as Edokoro-azukari juyon'i [no] jo Tosa-no-kami Fujiwara Mitsusada, and translated by the same source as “Tosa Fujiwara Mitsusada, Head of the Painting Bureau” (NOTE: This is the same Tosa Mitsusada as above, I think, with his native place of Fujiwara added.)

Underneath the inscriptions on both of these scrolls are identical red seals, reading from the top right down and across as:

光貞之印 - Mitsusada no in - “Seal of Mitsusada”

The third scroll painting seems to be somewhat older, or at least much more heavily worn and stained, though possibly not as old as its attribution or appearance suggests. I apologize for having what was meant to be the first of these three images turn up last in the online folder for reasons known only to Microsoft.

The white-on-red seal in zhuanshu script reads zig-zag from the top right as 王贏印 (Seal of Wang Ying in Mandarin). However, this is a Chinese name adopted by the Japanese artist Oda Kaisen (小田海仙 - 1785-1862), who according to the British Museum “…had been a pupil of Go Shun (1752-1811), the artist who began the successful style of the Shijō school of Kyoto. Kaisen left to study under Rai San'yō (1780-1832), however, and moved with him to Kyūshū where for five years he studied Chinese painting of the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368) and Ming dynasty (1368-1644). He was later to become a leading artist of the Chinese-derived Nanga (Southern school) style.”

The red-on-white seal above the aforementioned one has the name “Kaisen” in zhuanshu script. I can’t make out the entire written inscription, although the column immediately above the seals appears to start with 義姑 (Virtuous Maiden) and end with the cursive signature of Kaisen. The Kaisen name and a shortened title are written on the backside of the top end.

The painting style of this “Virtuous Maiden” shows a certain sweetness but doesn’t seem to be in keeping with what is seen in the British Museum’s “Egret on a Willow” by Kaisen, which is described in terms of employing “…various techniques: sotoguma (outside shading) on the branches; sprayed white paint, and tsuketate (a method using no outlines and employing a soft, tapered brush). There is a rich decorative feel to the painting, which reveals the influence of Go Shun's training. ”

In sum, I believe all three of these scroll paintings probably aren’t by the famous artists whose signatures and seals they bear, though they’re worthy decorative items (despite damage to the one attributed to Oda Kaisen). I’d much appreciate a critique of my assumptions and any other comments on the paintings.

Best regards and thanks,

Bill H.

PS, In case the live link doesn't work, here it is for pasting in your browser:

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=F1C6AAB5A0BE3294!1246&authkey=!AMuyNubQZi5YPFM&ithint=folder%2cjpg


Link :Japanese Scrolls

Bill,

I think you have it right. IMO, these are modern, decorative copies of works by Tosa Mitsusada and Oda Kaisen. I had also a look at the seals which don't match with the originals; see for example an original seal of Kaisen.

Guy.

Guy, I'm most obliged for your assistance, which helps further my goal of disproving the adage about old dogs being resistant to learning new stuff.

Cheers,

Bill H.

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