4th Sep, 2024 11:00
Three-Day Auction: Asian Art Discoveries
938
IMAO KEINEN: THE FOUR SEASONS BIRD AND FLOWER ALBUMS, VOL. 2 (SUMMER)
Sold for €455
including Buyer's Premium
By Imao Keinen (1845-1924)
Japan, Meiji period edition, around 1900
Color woodblock print album. Ink and color on paper. The ehon (picture book) sewn together and containing 32 illustrations of summer flowers and birds, numbered to the top. Titled Keinen kacho gafu (The Four Seasons Bird and Flower Albums), Volume 2.
Dimensions: 37 x 25.5 cm
Condition: Good condition with minor wear and slight browning of paper. Minor stains and some folds to the edges.
Provenance: Estate of Wolfgang Zacke (1942-2022), co-founder of Galerie Zacke, thence by descent.
Keinen’s most famous work, Keinen Kacho Gafu, is a stunning four-part work of woodblock prints of birds and flowers in the four seasons. Published in 1891, these woodblocks are full oban vertical subjects in a natural soft color palette. Featuring stunning large birds and beautiful small songbirds against scenery like blossoming cherry branches or snow-covered trees, these are exceptional nature prints from the late 19th century. The birds are naturalistically presented in their native habitat, featuring beautiful Japanese plants and flowers.
Imao Keinen (1845-1924) was born to a family in the textile business (Iseya for Inosuke Imao) and trained from age 11 as a picture master to provide imagery for yuzen textiles. He first studied ukiyo-e style with Umegawa Tokyo, then turned to Suzuki Hyakunen, who favored the Nanga school. He named himself for his father's most beloved artist, Matsumura Keibun. He was hired at age 30 by the Nishmura Sozaemon company (now Chiso) to design embroidered pictures. He also worked for Iida Shinshichi (Takashimaya) and would win prizes at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago, followed by a silver medal for the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle, and a gold medal at the Saint Louis World Exposition. Beginning in 1888, he taught at Kyoto Prefectural School of Painting, and would become an Imperial Artist in 1904, following his gold medal in Saint Louis. He was elected as a member of the Imperial Art Academy in 1919. He specialized in bird and flower paintings and prints.
Museum comparison:
A closely related woodblock print album is in the collection of the British Museum, museum number HG,0.253.2.
By Imao Keinen (1845-1924)
Japan, Meiji period edition, around 1900
Color woodblock print album. Ink and color on paper. The ehon (picture book) sewn together and containing 32 illustrations of summer flowers and birds, numbered to the top. Titled Keinen kacho gafu (The Four Seasons Bird and Flower Albums), Volume 2.
Dimensions: 37 x 25.5 cm
Condition: Good condition with minor wear and slight browning of paper. Minor stains and some folds to the edges.
Provenance: Estate of Wolfgang Zacke (1942-2022), co-founder of Galerie Zacke, thence by descent.
Keinen’s most famous work, Keinen Kacho Gafu, is a stunning four-part work of woodblock prints of birds and flowers in the four seasons. Published in 1891, these woodblocks are full oban vertical subjects in a natural soft color palette. Featuring stunning large birds and beautiful small songbirds against scenery like blossoming cherry branches or snow-covered trees, these are exceptional nature prints from the late 19th century. The birds are naturalistically presented in their native habitat, featuring beautiful Japanese plants and flowers.
Imao Keinen (1845-1924) was born to a family in the textile business (Iseya for Inosuke Imao) and trained from age 11 as a picture master to provide imagery for yuzen textiles. He first studied ukiyo-e style with Umegawa Tokyo, then turned to Suzuki Hyakunen, who favored the Nanga school. He named himself for his father's most beloved artist, Matsumura Keibun. He was hired at age 30 by the Nishmura Sozaemon company (now Chiso) to design embroidered pictures. He also worked for Iida Shinshichi (Takashimaya) and would win prizes at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago, followed by a silver medal for the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle, and a gold medal at the Saint Louis World Exposition. Beginning in 1888, he taught at Kyoto Prefectural School of Painting, and would become an Imperial Artist in 1904, following his gold medal in Saint Louis. He was elected as a member of the Imperial Art Academy in 1919. He specialized in bird and flower paintings and prints.
Museum comparison:
A closely related woodblock print album is in the collection of the British Museum, museum number HG,0.253.2.
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