Nanga
Aoyama - Green moutains. Landscape in the style of Mi Fa (?)Signed: Rôzan zô yû sekizan sha (friend of crawling through stones and mountains)
Seals: Yubin shi in, Rôyô, Ungashi (top), unread (bottom)
Technique: sumi on paper 129 x 48,3
Mounting: light blue brown damask 197,5 x 60,9
Box: authorized by Shôsen (dats unknown)
Condition: very good
Inscription reads: 青山歷々樹重々，寺在雲深第一峰。
Green mountains, one after the other,
with trees and trees again
There is a temple in far away clouds
on the highest peak. (HK)
As a child Rôzan liked to paint and refused to follow his father’s profession of doctor. He went to Nagasaki where he studied with the Nanga painter/priest Sô Tetsuô (1791-1871). In 1867 together with some fellow bunjin they smuggled themselves into China. After arriving in Shanghai they studied with the leading painter Hu Gongshou (1823-1886). According to Tokugawa law it was forbidden to travel to China. He would be sentenced to death after his return, but waited until 1873 when the Meiji government allowed his return to Tokyo, where after his retun he was considered the leading local Nanga painter. His style is considered Chinese, utilizing light ink and slanted brushwork.
Reference:
Berry & Morioka ’08 pp. 16-25
Roberts p. 131
Araki p. 786
Berry ‘01 p. 156 # 12-64
Hempel ‘98 p. 168 # 30
Iizuka, vol. 21 - Meiji 1 # 137-140
Price: ON REQUEST
