Page 182 - Fine Japanese Art November 29, 2019 Galerie Zacke

149 | SESSON SHUKEI:
A RARE PAINTING OF KINKO SENNIN
Sealed Sesson and Shukei
Japan, 16th century, Muromachi period (1336-1573)

A large and expressively painted image of Kinko Sennin (in
Chinese Qin Gao) reading from a scroll and riding on a gigantic
carp, the latter with a crazed expression with large eyes. The large
dynamically painted tail of the carp swings above the head of the
Sennin, as the pair emerge from the mist around them. Note the
fine and wise expression of the immortal, and the finely painted
fingers which hold the scroll. Framed under glass and set onto a
European passe-partout.
Satake Shukei (born Satake Heizo, 1504 – ca. 1589) was a Japanese
Zen Monk painter from the Muromachi period, also known as the
last great Muromachi ink painter. His painting style is influenced
by ink paintings imported from China, his works being some of the
earliest examples of ink painting in Japan, infused with traditional
subjects imbued with a power and originality, so unique to Japanese
painting. He was known to have painted Sennin, and another
Kinko Sennin is in the collection of the Kyoto National Museum,
designated as a culturally important object (Juyo Bunkazai).
One square seal to the lower right reading SHUKEI and another
pot-seal (tsubo-in) reading SESSON. Both seals are a close match
to the artist’s seal repertoire, present on authenticated works in
museum collections.
SIZE (painting only) 130 x 53 cm, SIZE (with frame) 151.7 x 74 cm
Condition: Very good age-related condition. The painting has been
set onto a passe-partout. Expected creases, minor losses, fading
coherent with the age and comparable works from the period.
Provenance: German private collection acquired from Kunsthandel
Klefisch in Cologne with an E-mail from Trudel Klefisch stating
(translated from German): “A work with the signature of the ink
painter Satake Shukei, who was known under his monk name
Sesson, and lived between 1504-89(?). I have acquired the painting
from Werner Funke in Cologne. Mr. Funke purchased the painting
in 1975 from Henk Kouw, Prinzengracht 156, who had acquired it
from a London collection.”

Estimate EUR 15.000,-
Starting price EUR 7.500,-

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