Yamamoto Shunkyo (1872-1933), fresh willow and a yellow bird, Japanese hanging scroll

*From the store A single small bird is depicted with ample empty space as snow falls around it. In Shunkyo’s works, snowy landscapes are often seen. Grand scenes of snow-covered mountains and snow falling from pine trees are particularly well known. If you look closely at this painting, you can see that no outline lines are drawn; instead, the willow and the bird are expressed through the natural flow of the brush applied directly onto the washi paper. This kind of technique, making use of ink bleeding and soft gradation, works better on washi than on silk, as pigments soak into the paper more readily—so it was likely intentionally painted on washi. The mounting is of high quality, and today it would be extremely expensive to commission (in some cases costing more than the artwork itself). However, only the roller ends are not original and have been replaced with modern high-grade resin. For Shunkyo’s tomobako, except for works from his very early period, he typically writes the title, name, and seal on the outside of the box lid (whereas most painters write the title on the front and the signature and seal separately on the reverse). Unfortunately, there are some stains and creases across the painting, but they are not severe enough to interfere with appreciation. It comes in a double box from the period, indicating that it has been carefully preserved over time. ------------------ Setting weight This piece weighs 1.5 kg. Material Ink, Pale Japanese pigments on paper Size Overall: vertical 223 cm × width 43 cm (87.80 in × 16.93 in)＊width does not include roller ends. (the work: vertical 137 cm × width 30.8 cm (53.94 in × 12.13 in)) Condition ・There are burns, stains, wrinkles on the Japanese paper on the back of the cover. ・There are burns, stains, wrinkles on the image. ・There are burns, stains, wrinkles, warp in the mounting. *The shaft tip has been replaced with a modern one.＊It comes with a double box. Remarks ・Roller ends are Resin. ・Tomo-Bako.(Box inscription by the artist.) Materials for mounting All of them are made of silk. Other **There is a note about shipping restrictions and VAT. Please check before purchase.** *There may be a slight difference in color between the photo and the actual product. *Notes on Shipping (Especially for Customers in Italy) We generally ship by EMS from Japan. Recently, there has been an increase in cases where packages shipped to Italy have experienced delays or difficulties reaching customers due to strict customs procedures. As a result, please be aware that delivery to Italy may take several weeks to about one month. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience, but we kindly ask that you regularly check the tracking number (along with your postal code) on the website of your local postal service to monitor the status of your shipment. In some cases, it may also be necessary to contact your local delivery company directly. In addition, if you are a new customer in Italy, we kindly ask that you provide your codice fiscale via chat after placing your order. Thank you very much for your understanding and cooperation. Biography Yamamoto Shunkyo (1872-1933) Born in Shiga Prefecture. His real name was Yamamoto Hiroyusuke. He used the art names Shunkyo, Ittetsukyoji, and Enyusai. In 1883, he studied the Shijo school under Nomura Bunkyo in Kyoto and received the name "Shunkyo." From 1885, he studied the Maruyama school under Mori Kansai. He won multiple awards at national art exhibitions including the Naikoku Kangyo Hakurankai. He served as judge for Bunten and as an instructor at Kyoto City School of Arts and Crafts. From 1909, he became a teacher (later professor) at Kyoto City Specialist School of Painting. He was appointed an Imperial Household Artist in 1917 and a member of the Imperial Art Academy in 1919. He developed a dynamic painting style by combining Shijo-Maruyama realism with Western perspective techniques. Regarded as a pioneer of modern Nihonga alongside Takeuchi Seiho and Kikuchi Hobun. He died in 1933 at the age of 60.