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Dear forum members,

it would be great if you could help me identify the artist of a scroll from the late 19th early 20th century that depicts an elegant lady. There is a inscribed box with the scroll, but I am not sure whether it is the original box for the painting but I include two pictures showing the labeling of the box.

Thanks a lot for your help and happy Thanksgiving to everyone,
Bert

Signature,
翠蘋女子寫　- Painted by Lady Suihin
Seal,
翠蘋女子　　- Lady Suihin

Inscription on box,
宮女讀和歌　-　A Court Lady Reads (Composes) Waka Poem
翠蘋女子画　-　Picture of Lady Suihin
(Same wording is written on the label attached to the end of box)

Lady Suihin 翠蘋女子　was the pseudonym of Daido Tomiko 大洞富子 who was a paintress and wife of the famous painter Kawai Kyokudo 川合玉堂 (1873-1957).
I can't find more biographical data about her.

With regards,
I.Nagy

Dear Mr. Nagy,

As always, thank you so much for your expert help. Now I can associate a name and an somewhat intriguing story with my scroll and additionally know that the box is indeed the original.

Happy Thanksgiving to you,
Bert

The box belongs to the scroll. It says a courtlady to be painted by lady suihin.
Signature also say lady suihin 翠蘋女史.
She seems to be the wife of 青木泉橋 Aoki Senkyou a Kyouto painter for Bijinga.
Rather a forgotten name. Could you show the painting?
peter

Dear Peter,

Thank you so much for your reply. While your identification of the paintress is identical to Mr Nagy's, you both differ with respect of the name of her husband (Kawai Kyokudo vs. Aoki Senkyou). I attach a picture of the scroll which is a rather lovely painting showing a court lady leaned to a screen that depicts a samurai and a retainer with a dog on a leash).

Happy Thanksgiving to you,
Bert

The two names only pop up in the biography of Gyokudou. He came as a 13y old boy to Gifu to Aoki(not Kyoto)and was later introduced by him to Mochizuki Gyokusen in Kyoto.
Thank you for sharing the painting here. The painting is another example that fame often is more related to circumstances or just being in the right place.
box and mounting of the painting are clearly 19th century. They could not be done in the time Gyokudou worked as a painter.
peter

Peter,
You are right Lady Suihin was the wife of Aoki Senkyō. The Aoki couple was who helped the talented young Kawai Kyokudō to start his studies in Kyōto.
With regards,
I.Nagy

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