Description
Refined painting on paper in shikishi (色紙) format, made by the artist Kawabata Gyokusho (川端玉章) and depicting a minogame (蓑亀) turtle, a creature symbol of longevity, characterized by a train of seaweed formed on the carapace over the long years of its life.
Born in Kyoto to a family of lacquer artists, Kawabata Gyokusho (1842-1913) began his training with the master Nakajima Raisho (中島来章). After a brief interlude devoted to studying Western painting with the illustrator Charles Wirgman, he returned to Japanese-style painting and became a leading figure in Tokyo’s artistic circles.
The work on Japanese washi paper (和紙), despite some signs of aging visible in particular on the margins, is in overall good condition.
