From Jonathan A. Hill, Bookseller Inc., New York, NY, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
AbeBooks Seller since 15 March 1999
About this Item
80; 78 folding leaves. Two vols. Small 4to (ca. 270 x 200 mm.), Vol. I: orig. gray wrappers (wrappers rather rubbed & a little frayed); Vol. II: orig. green semi-stiff wrappers, orig. stitching. [Japan]: 1841. Two magnificent sketchbooks of natural history drawings by Tsubaki Chinzan (1801-54), "a member of the Corps of Spearmen of the Tokugawa shogunate. Like many educated samurai of his time, who spent their leisure time in intellectual pursuits, Chinzan devoted himself to painting, quickly acquiring a considerable reputation. He studied under Kaneko Kinryo, Tani Buncho, and finally Watanabe Kazan, with whom he formed a lasting friendship…In his preferred themes of flowers and birds he employed a very different technique from that of Kazan and used delicate and rich colours." Benezit Dictionary of Artists (online). He was one of the leading Chinese-style painters in Japan in the 19th century. These two albums reveal Tsubaki Chinzan s masterful skills as an artist of natural history objects. In many of the drawings, light, lyrical impressions are created by the "boneless" method (painting forms with only ink and color washes instead of outlines). Throughout, the artist has used lush color tonalities, reflecting his own artistic sense and consummate skill with the brush. The first volume, is entitled in manuscript on upper cover "Kaki soka shasei. Tsubaki shi Takugedo [or] Takukad? ?????? ?????" ["Flowers, Plants, Vegetables, Fruits, Sketched. Tsubaki shi Takuged?"]. Tsubaki Chinzan has added his seal on the upper cover as well. The zodiac year given is "1841." The range of botanical illustrations is great: plum flowers, narcissus, magnolia, thistles, chrysanthemums, lilies, peonies, orchids, cucumbers, daikon, edamame, lotus roots, winter gourds, ginger, fava beans, shiitake mushrooms, rice, kudzu, figs, grapes, pomegranates, apricots, plums, etc. Most of the illustrations are finished, but a number are not fully realized. Names of the objects are given, along with dates. The second album is concerned with birds, rabbits, moles, mice, bats, lobsters, crabs, turtles, many types of fish including goldfish, and insects including butterflies and moths. In this volume, we find the seal of Tanaka Yahei of Nihonbashi kita zume, Osaka. The seal states that he was a merchant specializing in Western-style dry cleaning. In very nice condition. Seller Inventory # 9713
Bibliographic Details
Title: Two albums of drawings by Tsubaki Chinzan, ...
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