Large six-panel byôbu 屏風 (room divider) with Chinese landscape
Price: € 2.350,00
A wonderful and large six-panel byôbu 屏風 (room divider) with a very detailed continuous painting of a Chinese inhabited mountain landscape along a vast water front. Painted in the style of the painting monk Shûgetsu Tôkan 秋月等観 from Satsuma, who lived during the Muromachi period (1333-1573).
A densely populated city with many different figures who go about their daily business is shown on the lower part of the village. This buzzling scene is intermit by a serene wide river with a few junk boats and an island housing a tôrô (garden lantern).
The other coast with a long quay with typical arched bridges, where various people are engaged with their activities as well.
Going up, the painting continuous with a vast mountain scape with a few villages here and there.
The painting is done in black ink 墨 (sumi) on paper. The open sky and the river are accentuated by painted streaks of shiny gold creating some extra depth.
Sealed twice in the lower right corner: ‘The monk Shûgetsu who travelled to China’ 入唐秋月居本 (Nittô Shûgetsu Inomoto). Shûgetsu returned in Satsuma from his travels in 1492. The second seal is his name seal ‘Tôkan’ 等観. Although the seals refer to the monk, the screen is not a work from his hand. It is a homage by a student that followed his style.
The panels are surrounded by two silk borders, a thin brown one, and a wide dark greyish blue one with a flower design. Protected by a red lacquered wooden frame with its original hardware, and with a label reading ‘A river and mountain landscape with a cloudy valley’ 雲谷山水.
Considering the age, which is approximately 120-220 years old, the byôbu is in a good condition. It has signs of age, wear and old restorations. Please take a close look at the photos for a clear condition reference.
Dimensions:
Total width: 373 cm. (2 x 63.5 cm and 4 x 61.5 cm); Height: 172.6 cm.
Period: Japan – Late Edo period / Early Meiji period (19th century).
This room divider is very light in weight and suitable to be mounted flat on a wall and be presented as one piece of art.
When shipped we will add a certificate of authenticity.
