Kishi Ganryo “Flowers of the Four Seasons” Japanese Folding Screen

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Kishi Ganryo “Flowers of the Four Seasons” Japanese Folding Screen

About the Item

Kishi Ganryo (1798-1852) “Flowers of the Four Seasons” Six-panel screen, ink, color and gold leaf on paper. Inscription: Utanosuke Ganryo Artist seals: Ganryo no in Shiryo Dimensions: 170 cm x 556 cm (67” x 219”) Flowers and plants have long held an important role as signifiers of meaning in Japanese culture. Hanakotoba is the Japanese ‘language of flowers’. Essentially, each flower has its own meaning, often based on its physical attributes and/or well known appearances in historical art and literature. This floral screen by Kishi Ganryo is rich with emotional sentiments. The flowers chosen epitomise femininity and the theme is unambiguously romantic. The work was likely commissioned as a dowry gift for a bride. The screen is ‘read’ from right to left, from spring through to winter. Flowers associated with spring include wisteria, which represents the intoxication of love, bleeding hearts embody femininity and gentleness, and the stem peony timidity and purity. Moving through to summer the pink morning glories represent binding love; they are entwined around tiger lilies which embody prosperity. The white chrysanthemum, an eternal symbol of autumn, represents trust and purity. It is placed next to the cockscomb which stands for emotion and affection. Amongst the pampass grass is the bellflower, which represents unchanging love and honesty. In winter the Nandina flourishes and it is seen as a purifying plant. It is set among bamboo which is a symbol of perseverance and tolerance. It is highly unusual in that the four seasons are represented on one screen as a complete work of art. Almost invariably spring and summer would be presented on one screen and fall and winter on the matching pair. The screen is also extraordinary in its grand size, measuring 18 feet across. There is a wonderful Japanese sense of composition, revealing just the centre part of the tree-trunk, and the tips of plants and grasses, which gives the impression that you are looking out of a window. In particular the twisting wisteria vines bring to mind Maruyama Okyo’s famous wisteria screens. Against the gold-leaf ground the flowers dazzle with realism. It is a very important and representative work by Ganryo, who was known as a careful observer of nature and talented colorist. Kishi Ganryo’s given name was Hamatani Masatoshi. He studied painting under Kishi Ganku (founder of the Kishi school of art) from a young age. He was adopted into the Kishi family as the husband of Ganku’s daughter, Sada. Another well-known artist of the school, Kishi Renzan, married Sada’s daughter from an earlier marriage. Ganku moved to Kyoto in 1773 and eventually became a retainer to Imperial Prince Arisugawa (1812-1886). After Ganku’s death in 1839, both Ganryo and Gantai took positions as retainers to the Prince. Ganryo also inherited the painting alias Utanosuke (which he uses on this screen painting) from Ganku. Gantai, as the eldest son of Ganku, took over operations of the school. Ganryo supported him heavily in this role. Ganryo is known to have worked with Gantai on his important commissions at the Kyoto Imperial Palace and Koyasan. Works by the artist can be found in the collections of the Ashmolean Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Victoria and Albert Museum, Museum of Fine Art Boston and Musee Guimet Paris.

Creator:
Kishi Ganryo (Artist)
Dimensions:
Height: 67 in (170.18 cm)Width: 219 in (556.26 cm)Depth: 0.5 in (1.27 cm)
Style:
Edo (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Gold Leaf,Hand-Painted
Place of Origin:
Japan
Period:
1840-1849
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1840
Condition:
Recently restored and remounted.
Seller Location:
Kyoto, JP
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU247238923183