sketches of Japanese manners and customs

[Nobody]

Drawings for "sketches of Japanese manners and customs" / J.M.W. Silver

 

Notes: "Sketches of Japanese manners and customs" published: London : Day and Son, 1867 [vol. 1]: 27 leaves of color plates, [vol. 2]: 7 leaves of color plates, [vol. 3]: 6 leaves of color plates, [vol. 4]: 12 leaves of color plat

 

vol. 1: http://elib.doshisha.ac.jp/denshika/dra ... dx206.html

vol. 2: http://elib.doshisha.ac.jp/denshika/dra ... dx207.html

vol. 3: http://elib.doshisha.ac.jp/denshika/dra ... dx208.html

vol. 4: http://elib.doshisha.ac.jp/denshika/dra ... dx209.html

vol. 5: http://elib.doshisha.ac.jp/denshika/dra ... dx263.html

 

Ref. Doshisha University Academic Repository

http://elib.doshisha.ac.jp/english/digital/yosyo.html

[Brian]

Moriyama san,

 

You always find the most interesting archived documents

I wish there was an explanation for many of those drawings.

Of course you can always buy the original book: http://used.addall.com/SuperRare/submit ... store=ZVAB

Bargain at only $3000

 

Brian

[John A Stuart]

I archived these drawings, thankyou. One thing about these is that I can print them with faithful reproduction of colour. $3000 and we can have them at a fraction. John

[Curran]

Moriyama-san,

 

Thank you for posting those links. There were many interesting ones in there, and I find some of the style rendering elements interesting. My primary hobby or interest is painting, though I know little of Japanese schools and next to nothing about Japanese prints.

 

I would like to ask a favor for help with a painting that I believe is Japanese. It was purchased from Denmark a number of years ago. It is on silk and framed. Frame age is 75 to 100 years old and been with the painting for a considerable amount of time, so the painting is no younger than that.

 

The painting is on silk and the size is 60 cm wide by 130 cm tall. Design is vine and flowers with a sparrow in the center. Silk is old, but the rendering is somewhat of western perspective, so I have always thought the painting dates from 1850 to 1900.

 

I enjoy this painting, but I know nothing about its age or the painter. I have tried before in other forums to learn more, but never gotten response. I can provide more pictures. I deeply appreciate any help or direction to individuals that can help me identify this painting or to learn more about the artist.

 

Curran Campbell

[John A Stuart]

Hi Curran, I can't make out the first character, so, I checked every art signature that has 'kuni' as an end and none match those I have. I checked some of my prints but those are woodblocks. Maybe brush on silk is a whole different kettle of fish. John

 

 

This might lead somewhere

 

http://www.artcyclopedia.com/nationalit ... anese.html

[Nobody]

Hi Curran,

 

I am sure about the first kanji, which is an old style of 桜 (sakura = cherry). Although I am totally unsure about the second kanji, the name could be 櫻都.

 

櫻都 (Ôto)

 

BTW, 櫻都 is also an old expression of Sacramento.

[John A Stuart]

After that help with the first kanji as 'O', 'sakura' and the next as 'To', 'Tsu', 'kuni', 'miyako'; no matches come up on any index. John

[k morita]

Hi Curran.

Nice Pic.

 

I can read that the name of this painter's art-name is Oson(Oh-son)櫻邨.

Sorry, i do not know anything about this painter's achievement.

 

K MOrita

[John A Stuart]

Now that name is recorded, and this may be the artist. Art name Oson, usual name Sakai Hoitsu.

 

Born in Edo (modern Tokyo) into a wealthy samurai family, Hoitsu experimented with a variety of idioms before finally taking up the Rimpa style of Ogata Korin (1658-1716). He was responsible for a Rimpa revival in nineteenth-century Edo, and he published two woodblock-printed books on Korin, including the Korin hyakuzu (One hundred paintings of Korin) in 1815.

 

Another example of his work.

[Nobody]

Sakai Hoitsu (酒井抱一) is a BIG name. But sorry, he is not the artist in question. One of his art names Oson was wrtten as 鶯村. And I think that the style of Curran's painting is not of Rimpa.

 

I found an artist's name Okada Oson (岡田櫻邨) on the net. He could be the artist, though I could not find more info.

[John A Stuart]

Darn it, not much help then. I like the cranes though. To tell you the truth though, Curran's painting looks more 1890 to 1920 style Art Nouveau. Western influence here don't you think? John

[k morita]

Hi John, :D

 

I agree with Moriyama-san's opinion.

 

At that time, Japanese picture(Nihonga) was influenced from Western about perspective and realism.

 

K Morita

[Curran]

Thanks to all of you for this considerable help. This has been the 'mystery' painting in our house for years now. I have never been able to read the signature.

 

I am much more comfortable with western painting history and technique. My wife and I both appreciate Japanisme / Art Nouveau and the echoes of its influence in places like Glasgow and the USA. We also see many works where Japanese artist studied in Europe or european modes.

 

I think this painting is from 1870 to 1910?

I am much more comfortable dating canvas and frames than I am silk. Checking the back of the frame, the wood, and the tooling of some of the fasteners, I think the frame is closer to 100 years old. The painting has been with the frame a long time. The glass is very old with micro bubbling. There are elements about the frame that make me wonder if it was not made by a turn of century furniture maker.

 

The silk shows fine age, and could be considerably older- ....... but the painting style has some european rendering tricks such as the birds slight head turn relative to the flowers and the brushstroke pattern in the way that some of the flower buds are rendered.

I have been wrong before, thinking something of nature theme shows European influence- only to find it predates most european influence. But it is a bit strong in this painting.

 

The full scale painting is understated, but very good to excellent. Given its size, I wonder if it was not a screen panel? The dark wood drame works, but a heavy mantle for the painting. The painting seems too large for a scroll.

 

It is likely the artist is minor or unknown. The brushwork is exception and layout is very well rendered, but there were wave after wave of exceptional art and artists during those years. Okada Oson or another late 1800s artist is more likely.

 

Thank you again. It feels great to finally make progress with this painting.

 

Best wishes,

 

Curran

[Curran]

A quick picture added.

Apology for the self reflection in the glass, as it muddles the image a bit.