Lot 33: Mountain Path and Bamboo Window, 1839

Nukina Kaioku (1778-1863) Mountain Path and Bamboo Window, 1839 Signed Kaioku sei, sealed Bokurin, Hochikujo (or Hochikushi) sha and Ware sono sei o aisu, dated 1839 spring Hanging scroll; ink on paper 52 7/8 x 3 7/8in. (134.3 x 19.9cm.) each (2)

134.3 x 19.9cm.

"Masters of Japanese Calligraphy: 8th-19th Century," at the Japan House Gallery and the Asia Society Galleries, New York Oct. 4, 1984-Jan. 6, 1985; at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City Feb. 15-March 31, 1985; and at the Seattle Art Museum, May 9-July 14, 1985

John M. Rosenfield with Fumiko E. Cranston, Extraordinary Persons: Works by Eccentric, Nonconformist Japanese Artists of the Early Modern Era (1580-1868) in the Collection of Kimiko and John Powers, Vol. 2, (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Art Museums, 1999), pp. 206-08, no. 173. Yoshiaki Shimizu and John M. Rosenfield, Masters of Japanese Calligraphy: 8th-19th Century, exh. cat., (New York: Asia Society and Japan Society, 1984), no.133.

Nukina Kaioku was a prominent literati painter, calligrapher and Confucianist. His calligraphy is highly respected and he was regarded as one of the Bakumatsu no Sanpitsu (Three Brushes of the late Edo period). His poem by Kaioku has been translated: Along the mountain path I pick flowers; In the spring I brew rice wine. The bamboo window encloses the moon; At night I appraise tea. Translation by Fumiko E. Cranston from Extraordinary Persons, Vol. 2, (1999), p. 208.