Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries

Another gift I know nothing about. This is what appears to be a woodblock print, about 8 x 8, with an accompanying text block of the same size. I've done a search on Google, as well as the ukiyo-e print search site, and come up empty. It seems to have a modern look to it, but being off my usual turf on this, I could be way off. I'd be most grateful for any and all input as to the meaning of the text, the identity and (if any) significance of the figure, and anything else the knowledgeable members of the forum can tell me. Many thanks in advance.

Hi Lance,
Are you sure it is a print ? It looks more like a painting to me. The script seems to be in brush strokes rather than printed. Figure seems a bit gouache like.
Sorry I cannot read it , but the gent has a Genji like style to him.
Sue

Sue -- I think you're right. Thank you. Now if I can just find out what the text is so I can dig into whatever history is behind this painting. Thanks again.

Lance,
The gentleman in your painting may be one of the 100 Poets and, if so, the text would then be a poem written by him. I do not read Japanese so I can't help you there. The subject "100 poems from 100 poets" was a popular subject for artists during the Edo period. If you search online for Katsukawa Shunsho and/or "100 poems from 100 poets" you will find images that look very much like your piece along with a ton of other designs. Just a hunch.

Good luck!
Willie

Thanks, Willie. I have examined several sites with the prints you suggested, and have found some similarities. The Asian arts expert at the Library of Congress has kindly offered to translate the writing for me, and I'll post whatever I learn for the benefit of anyone interested.

Just got a reply from the very kind folks at the Library of Congress, which I quote below. It identifies the script below the painting, but unless one of the learned members can add these all together and get more from it than I can, I'm still in the dark on artist and date. Any thoughts, guesses or extrapolations welcome.

Response: "The text image you sent me is in Japanese indeed, in the form of classical Japanese cursive writing. The content is a poem by Monk Sosei (844?-910?), a poem written "On looking out at the capitol when the cherry trees were in full bloom." It reads, miwataseba/ yanagi sakura o/ kokimazete/ miyako no haru no/ nishiki narikeru. "[Trans.: Seen from a distance/ willows and cherry blossoms/ all in termingled:/ the imperial city/ in truth a springtime brocade.]"
The poem appears in the Kokin Wakashu [Trans.: Collection of Japanese Poems from Ancient and Modern Times], the first imperial anthology of Japanese poetry (waka), ca. 905 which consists 1,111 poems. This particular poem by Monk Sosei appears in the Spring section, the 56th among 1,111. Monk Sosei is one of the Thirty-six Immortals of Poetry in Heian Period (794−1185).

For whatever it might be worth, I found that the painting was done on a single piece of silk, about 8 inches wide and 3 feet long (give or take). The previous owner had a mounting done that sealed it in the mat, and I'm not going to take it apart for fear of causing damage. The silk appears very well aged, but still holding up well. If there is an artist seal/signature, it's apparently hidden under the mat.

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