Courtiers approaching Nakoso barrier, inscribed with a verse from the anthology Senzai wakashu

Described by Linda A. Izzo, Christie’s, on 28 May 1992 as “General Yoshiie at Nakoso no seki,” and as “associated with a calligraphy by Ono Kozan (fl. early 20th century)” [F1992.23].

In a fitted wooden box inscribed the artist (with F1992.23). See “Inscriptions.”

For additional descriptions see Comments.

Maker(s)
Artist: Tomioka Tessai 富岡鉄斎 (1836-1924)
Historical period(s)
Meiji era, 1905
Medium
Ink and color on paper, ivory jiku
Dimensions
H x W (image): 137.8 × 34.3 cm (54 1/4 × 13 1/2 in)
Geography
Japan
Credit Line
Gift of Lawrence and Sonia Klein
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1992.22
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Painting
Type

Hanging scroll

Keywords
Japan, kakemono, Meiji era (1868 - 1912)
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

Described by Linda A. Izzo, Christie's, on 28 May 1992 as "General Yoshiie at Nakoso no seki," and as "associated with a calligraphy by Ono Kozan (fl. early 20th century)" [F1992.23].

In a fitted wooden box inscribed the artist (with F1992.23). See "Inscriptions."

For additional descriptions see Comments.

Inscription(s)

1. (Kate Theimer, 8 April 1996) Described by Linda A. Izzo, Christie's, on 28 May 1992 as "signed Nanaju-ichi o Tessai Gaishi, sealed Tomioka Hyakuren and another seal."

In a fitted wooden box inscribed by the artist (with F1992.23): "dated Meiji 39 (1906), signed Tessai Gaishi jidai toki toshi Nanajuichi, and sealed Tomioka Hyakaren."

Inscribed by the artist with a poem, see Comments.

Label

Swift, spontaneous brush strokes delineate a simple scene of a courtier and his small retinue approaching a mountain barrier gate.  Light touches of pink depict cherry blossoms, a motif repeated in the decorated square near the top that represents a shikishi, a sheet of paper for inscribing a single verse of Japanese poetry. The quoted poem comes from the anthology, Senzai wakashu (Collection of Japanese Poems of a Thousand Years), compiled in the 1180s by order of Emperor Goshirakawa (1127-1192). The poem composed by Minamoto Yoshi'ie (1039-1106) reads:

Although I know
the wind blows
at Nakoso Barrier,
how the mountain cherry blossoms
narrow the path!

Collection Area(s)
Japanese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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