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Helping a friend clear out some things from his parents' house and found this watercolor. It was originally in a wooden frame, no glass, no matting, and obvious damage from moisture (why someone would have what strikes me as a pretty nice painting and not protect it is beyond me). Anyway, it's about 26 by 18, all the figures seeming well-done, no artist signature or any other information with it. The frame, which was getting pretty disreputable, looked like it probably came from the 60s or thereabouts. Would appreciate any thoughts or opinions about the artist, age and theme of the painting. I added three photos, two covering the whole painting, the third trying to get a little more of a closeup. My thanks in advance.

To update, I have been told by another individual with more knowledge than mine that this is actually a 19th century woodblock print. I have searched on the ukiyo-e site and found no matching image, so will appreciate any input.

Lance,

It's indeed Japanese but not 'ukiyo-e'. It's one of the four scenes of the 'Kinki shoga' (琴棋書画 - The four noble pastimes), 'playing the qin' ('kin' in Japanese) or Chinese chess.

The woodblock of is probably a repro after a classic Japanese Kano painting from the 17th ot 18th century.

Guy.



URL Title :Jaanus - Kinki shoga

No chess playing going on in this case though Guy, these are writing implements and items from one of the scholars' art collection, pulled out for appreciation and discussion with the others, eg: http://greatmuseums.org/explore/more/great_museums_china_west_meets_east_at_the_metropolitan_museum_of_art

Rat,

You are of course correct. IMO, the original painting is probably Japanese, painted in the Chinese style, depicting a scene from the Kinki shoga, a popular subject and source of inspiration for Japanese painters in the 17th-18th century.

Guy.

could very well be, as this is more elaborate than just about any traditional Chinese print I'm aware of. the lamps and screen seem to me Chinese late 19th century, though I stand to be corrected

Wrong country. This is Chinese. Start your research there.

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