Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries

I recently purchased in Japan a set of large (approx. 55 cm x 70 cm) paintings (nikuhitsuga) illustrating scenes from famous Noh plays. The paintings on paper have been backed with sheets from an Oct. 1897 (Meiji 30) edition of the Osaka Asahi Shinbun. This tells me that the images were painted at the latest on or before that date. I suspect, however, that they may be older and that the newspaper backing was added later. If they are part of a genre, then it is one started by Kano Ryusetsu (狩野柳雪, 1647-1712), who similarly produced a series of Noh paintings (Nogakuzu 能楽図). Each image is stamped with two seals (see images). I have consulted several colleagues with expertise in the area of Japanese and Chinese language and calligraphy (though not art history), and my best guess is that the top seal reads Takada 高田 and the lower one Masatoshi no In 正年之印. I have not been able to identify any 18th or 19 century Japanese painter with either of these names who could have painted the images, however. I am thus at a loss and would appreciate and information or suggestions members of this form can provide.

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