Product Description

7300               A four-fold paper screen painted in ink and colour with a waning moon and matsu (pine tree) in mist rendered in sunago (gold dust). The reverse side of the screen is decorated in moriage (raised design) with two white ume (plum trees) in bloom.

Signed: Keishō

Seals: Imao Seikan, Keishō**(indecipherable)

Japan 20th century Shōwa period

Dimensions: H. 32¾” x W. 70¾” (83cm x 179.5cm)

Tomobako (original box) inscribed:

Lid: Tsuki to rōshyōzu. Keishyō sei (Moon and old pine tree. Made by Keishyō)

Seals: Imao Seikan, Keishō**(indecipherable)

Imao Keishō (1902-1993). (art name): Seikan. Born in Kyoto Keishō was the adopted son of the prominent Nihonga (Japanese style) painter Imao Keinen (1845-1924) and came to fully inherit his father’s painting skill and tradition after studying the Maruyama style of painting. After graduating from the Kyoto Prefecture School of Painting and continued to paint in the style of his father. His work was introduced on numerous occasions to the Imperial Household consequently raising his profile and appreciation of his work.

Imao Keishō specialised in painting misty moons and pine and he was commissioned to paint the sliding doors of Konkaikōmyōji temple, Kyoto. His style was popular amongst the Buddhist community gaining him many commissions for other important temples in Kyoto including Nanzenji, Kinkakuji, and Ginkakuji.