Meiji Paintings
MEIJI STYLE
From 1868 to 1912, Emperor Mutsuhito oversaw an era of transformation in Japan. Formerly a country of feudalism and isolation, Japan entered an age of modernization influenced by newly established trade and exchange with the West. The Meiji period, or period of “enlightened rule,” also saw the global impact of the East Asian country’s culture. Japanese Meiji furniture was exhibited at expositions from Paris to San Francisco and created for export.
Prior to the Meiji era, furniture was mostly made by commission for the ruling class; now there were new domestic and international markets. European styles like Japonisme appropriated Japanese design while craftsmen in places like Wales and England employed japanning, a varnishing technique that approximated the appearance of lacquer for the surfaces of furnishings.
Meiji furniture made for Japanese homes and buildings constructed in Western styles resulted in taller tables, chairs, cabinets with large drawers and other features. The government invested in areas such as transportation and communication, and because people could freely choose occupations after the restrictions of feudalism, industries of various types were energized by expressive new ideas during those years. Art schools were formed and, for the first time, design was an area of study in the country, leading to the evolution of professional design as a career by the 1890s.
The work of Japanese designers was transmitted widely through lavishly illustrated pattern books that included designs for screens and lacquerware for the home. While screens today may be of use as decorative accents or partitions to ensure privacy in one’s space, Japanese screens were adorned with paintings and were featured in performing arts such as concerts, tea ceremonies and more. The color illustrations that characterize Meiji woodblock prints, a genre of Japanese art that grew out of 17th-century developments in printing and book publishing, depicted the sweeping changes that the era brought to East Asia.
Although it was a time of societal and cultural shifts, a bolstered interest in art and design elevated Japanese craft traditions. From colorful porcelain table lamps with silk shades and hardwood tables decorated with dark lacquer to cabinets featuring iron hardware and inlaid with mother-of-pearl, Meiji furniture showcased Japan’s artistic heritage to the world.
Find a collection of antique Japanese Meiji period case pieces and storage cabinets, decorative objects, wall decorations and more furniture on 1stDibs.
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Style: Meiji
Japanese Two-Panel Screen: Ink Landscape on Silk
By Shunyu
Located in Hudson, NY
Japanese Two Panel Screen: Ink Landscape on Silk, Meiji period (1868 - 1912) painting of a man riding a mule on a pathway through the Kurotani mountains with a thatched roof shelter ...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Silk, Wood
Monumental Antique Mounted Japanese Daimyo Procession Hand Scrolls, Set of Four
Located in Sheridan, CO
Very unique and rare museum quality professionally framed Japanese Daimyo procession hand scroll, likely Meiji Period (1868-1911). The set of 4 scrolls feature ink and color figural ...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Hardwood, Paint, Paper
Nihonga Japanese Painting 1900 Meiji Scroll Kawai Gyokudo Nanga School Lake Scen
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
This painting by Gyokudo Kawa is named "Lakeside Night Return", portraying a serene journey home.
Gyokudo Kawai
(1873-1957)
A Japanese painter from the Meiji to Showa periods, born ...
Category
19th Century Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Silk
Nihonga Japanese Painting 1900 Meiji Scroll Fishing Boats at Gyosen Nanga School
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A drawing of the painting "Gyosen Gyosan" painted by Akifoshi. Also included is the box. This is a tasteful work depicting a fishing boat going fishing at sunrise.
■Silk back, handp...
Category
19th Century Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Silk
19th Century Japanese Screen Pair. Flowers & Birds of the Four Seasons
Located in Kyoto, JP
Flowers & Birds of the Four Seasons
Pair of six-fold Japanese Screens. Ink, color, gofun and gold on paper.
Second half of the 19th Centur...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Wood, Paper
Meiji Era Japanese Two Panel Hand Painted Wood Table Screen Tale of Genji
Located in Studio City, CA
A Meiji era Japanese two-panel wood screen, with illustrated images from The Tale of Genji that are exquisitely painted directly on wood with fine detail and precision, accented with scattered 24k gold leaf specks in cloud forms, rendered in the manner of Heian period...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf
Pair of Watercolor Paintings Depicting Carps
Located in Kastrup, DK
A vivid pair of Japanese watercolor paintings of carps. Individually framed. Artwork dimensions (cm): 20, 5 x 27, 5.
Handpainted on rice...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Glass, Wood, Paper
Japanese Six Panel Kano School Winter Landscape Screen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Large Japanese Meiji period six-panel screen depicting a winter landscape with a Chinese sage visiting friends in a country villa. Ink and vivid color pigments on mulberry paper mounted to a gilt background. Painted in the 19th century Kano school...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Metal
Antique Work Board Used by Japanese Craftsmen/1868-1920/Wabi-Sabi Wall Painting
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
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Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Cedar
Meiji Period Japanese Screen Pair, One Hundred Birds by Hasegawa Gyokujun
Located in Kyoto, JP
One hundred birds
Hasegawa Gyokujun (1863-1921)
Meiji period, circa 1900.
Ink, color and gofun on silk.
Dimensions of each screen:
H. 170 cm x W. 190 cm (67’’ x 75”)
Despite the title, well over 100 birds are represented in this pair of two-fold Japanese screens (the title functions figuratively to convey the idea of a large number). The monumental work is rendered with a comprehensive and highly complex composition which is exquisitely executed and meticulously colored. More a celebration of naturalism than the traditional “One Hundred Birds” paintings which originated in China. This was a subject matter known for its auspicious meaning as much as its actual depiction of nature. These paintings generally had a phoenix (occasionally peacocks) placed in the center, and the other birds paying homage to it.
In this quintessentially Japanese scene painted by Gyokujun, a couple of long-tailed birds modeled after paradise flycatchers are included; these are traditional auspicious motifs in Oriental bird and flower painting and denote themes such as celebration and enduring generations. In addition there is the playful inclusion of single exotic parrot. Even so, the vast majority of the birds and flowers are native to Japan. Reading the scene from right to left, from spring through to autumn, the overwhelming sense is one of movement and haste. It is almost as if the birds are in a race, with the fleetest leading the way forward. Although these native birds were commonly drawn amongst artists of the Shijo school, rarely were they painted with such drama and dynamism. It is not strictly a depiction of sketched birds whose manner was faithfully handed down through the traditions of the Shijo school. Rather we see Gyokujun seeking and achieving new expressions in the heart of the turbulent Meiji period.
Hasegawa Gyokujun (1863-1921) was born in Kyoto. He was the eldest son of Hasegawa Gyokuho, a Shijo school painter who studied under Matsumura Keibun. Gyokujun studied painting under his father and became a prominent member of the Kyoto painti
ng world from a young age. In 1891 he established the ‘Young Painters Social Club’ along with Takeuchi Seiho, Miyake Gogyo and Taniguchi Kokyo. Also in 1891 he was selected as a judge of the Great Private Paintings Exhibition along with Takeuchi Seiho, Yamamoto Shunkyo...
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Silk, Wood
Japanese Meiji Two Panel Screen Song Birds in Sakura
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Exceptional Japanese Meiji period two-panel screen, circa 1900. Featuring songbirds amid sakura cherry trees and flowering peony. Made in the Nihonga School style on handcrafted mulb...
Category
20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings
Materials
Brass
Japanese Silver Screen Pair, Meiji Period, Herons & Plovers, Shijo School
Located in Kyoto, JP
Heron & Plovers
Ink and silver leaf on paper
Maekawa Bunrei (1837-1917)
A pair of low six-panel Japanese screens by Maekawa Bunrei, a later master of the Kyoto based Shijo school of painting. On the right screen a solitary white heron stands motionless in a stream. On the left screen plovers play along a shoreline. The elegant forms are executed employing fluid, minimalistic ink brushstrokes. The soft brushstrokes and the sharp light of the silver leaf lend the scenes a sense of translucence. The sophisticated composition superbly exploits the long, horizontal pictorial surface of the pair of folding screens...
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Silver Leaf
19th Century Japanese Shunga Hand-Scroll, Katsukawa School
Located in Kyoto, JP
Shunga
Unknown artist
Meiji era, circa 1880
Hand-scroll mounted with 12 paintings
Ink, pigment and gofun on silk
Dimensions:
Each image measures H. 23.2 cm x W. 34.4 cm (9.15” x 13.5”)
The hand-scroll measures H. 28 cm x W. 540 cm (11” x 212”)
A set of 12 late 19th century Japanese Shunga paintings mounted as a hand-scroll. Two of the leaves bear the signature and seal ‘Setsuzan’, although we are unable to confirm the identity of the artist using this art name. 6 of the 12 images are taken almost directly from Katsukawa Shuncho’s late 18th century woodblock series, ‘Erotic Pictures...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Silk
Fine Framed Japanese Brush Painting of Bodhisattva
Located in Greenwich, CT
refined Japanese brush painting of Bodhisattva sitting by stream, waterfall and pine tree, ink and color on silk, 19th century, conservation fr...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Silk
Meiji Era, Circa 1900 Japanese Screen Pair, Flowers & Birds of Spring & Autumn
Located in Kyoto, JP
Flowers & Birds of Spring and Autumn
Unknown artist.
Japan. Meiji period, circa 1900.
A pair of six-fold screens. Ink, color, gofun and gold leaf on paper.
Signed: Gaga S...
Category
1890s Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf
Japanese Two Panel Screen Moon Rising Through Bamboo on Silver Leaf
Located in Hudson, NY
Japanese two panel screen: Moon rising through bamboo on silver leaf, Meiji period painting (1868 - 1912) of the moon rising on the horizon with a garden stone in the foreground. Lic...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings
Materials
Silver Leaf
Japanese Meiji Two Panel Screen Geese and Reeds
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Fantastic Japanese late Meiji period two-panel byobu screen by Hashimoto Koshu. The large screen features two white geese amid brightly colored reeds. The symbolism of geese and reeds was introduced to Japan from China in the 13th century. This was a popular subject for Japanese zen artists of the period. Beautifully crafted with exceptional brush strokes and details. Made with natural pigments in dramatic vivid colors of white, pink, and mint green on a silk background of gilt. Circa 1900 with artist seal on bottom right corner. Koshu studied Western art under...
Category
20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings
Materials
Silk, Wood, Paper
Japanese Two-Panel Screen, Hibiscus In Bloom
Located in Hudson, NY
Japanese Two Panel Screen: Hibiscus in Bloom, Meiji period (1868 - 1912) painting of hibiscus flowers reaching for the sun in full bloom. Mineral pigments on silk with a silk brocad...
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Silk, Wood, Paper
Large Antique Horizontal Japanese Painting
Located in Lambertville, NJ
An antique horizontal Japanese Meiji period qouache watercolor painting with black lacquered frame under glass. 65.5 inches long, 17inches high. Th...
Category
1880s Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Glass, Hardwood, Paper
Japanese Two Panel Screen Palms on Silver
Located in Hudson, NY
Palm trees on beautifully patinated silver leaf. Back paper is lovely hand printed with mica paint. Signature reads: Kiyoshi (Sei).
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Paper
Japanese Single Panel Painting Moon and Plum Design 'Winter Scene'
Located in Hudson, NY
Meiji period (1868-1912) ink painting of plum branches in bloom against a full moon with calligraphy. The calligraphy is a poem about winter. Signature reads: Matsuura Ryosai, Dated:...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Paper
Japanese Six-Panel Meiji Screen Flowering Peonies and Butterflies
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Stunning Japanese Meiji period six-panel large screen. Featuring blooms of spring flowering white, pink, and red peonies with butterflies over a gilt background. Made in the Nihonga ...
Category
20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings
Materials
Brass
Pair of Japanese Meiji Six Panel Screens of Seasonal Landscapes
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Fascinating pair of large Japanese Meiji period six-panel screens of seasonal landscapes with flowers and birds. The first screen depicts a pair of pheasants in a spring landscape with a white flowering cherry tree, peonies, and rose of Sharon with brush clover. The second screen depicts a pair of quail in an autumn landscape with flowering autumn plants and grasses including chrysanthemums, bellflowers, and ominaeshi. The umbrella pines appear to be in the manner of Kano Tanyu...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Brass, Gold Leaf
Japanese Four-Panel Rimpa Screen Floral Autumn Landscape
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Magnificent Japanese four-panel 19th century Meiji screen. Made in the Rimpa School style depicting a serene floral autumn landscape. Beautifully painted sumi ink and color pigments ...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Brass, Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf
Japanese Two Panel Screen Sedge of Cranes in Rolling Landscape with Gold Clouds
Located in Hudson, NY
Meiji period (1868-1912) painting of a group of cranes gathering next to water's edge with gold dust clouds in the background. The scene is accented by wild grasses and lichen on the...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Gold
Japanese Two-Panel Gold Leaf Screen by Yoshikawa
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Stunning Japanese two-panel folding screen featuring a gold leaf landscape signed by Yoshikawa. Delicate scene of cherry and willow trees near a village with high mountains in the ba...
Category
20th Century Chinese Meiji Paintings
Materials
Brass, Gold Leaf
Japanese Hanging Scroll, Late 19th Century
Located in New York, NY
A Japanese hanging scroll or Kakejiku, circa 1890, depicting bamboo grass and a rabbit. In Japanese culture, the rabbit is a symbol of cleverne...
Category
1890s Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Parchment Paper
Japanese Scroll Painting, 19th Century Chinese Pheasants by Yoshizawa Setsuan
Located in Kyoto, JP
Chinese Pheasants
Yoshizawa Setsuan (1809-1889)
Hanging scroll, ink and color on silk.
Painting inscription: Setsuan Houyou
Upper seal: Y...
Category
Mid-19th Century Asian Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Silk
Japanese Meiji Riverside Scroll Painting, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Although western painting was initially embraced during Japan’s Meiji period (1868-1912), artists brought on a revival of traditional painting styles as they sought to create a modern Japanese style with roots in the past. This exquisite hanging scroll demonstrates the preference for soft layering of gray tones with judicious use of color. The landscape is rendered in soft ink washes that subtly distinguish between water, mountain, and sky. The scroll painting...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings
Materials
Paper
Large Framed Japanese Buddhist Amida Temple Hall Painting, Mid-19th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A large and incredible Japanese painting of a Buddhist temple hall with Amida Nyorai, late Edo or early Meiji period, mid-19th century, Japan. Mounted wit...
Category
Mid-19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Wood, Paint, Brocade, Silk, Acrylic
Japanese Two-Panel Screen Ikebana on Gold
Located in Hudson, NY
Japanese two-panel screen: Ikebana on gold. Meiji period (1868-1912) painting of a basket with beautifully arranged spring flowers in the style of ikebana (Japanese traditional flowe...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf
Japanese Four-Panel Screen Water Landscape
Located in Hudson, NY
Japanese four-panel screen: Water landscape, Meiji period (1868-1912) painting of a waterfall on the left, leading to a meandering stream amongst a hi...
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Silver Leaf
Korean Six-Panel Screen of Legendary Chinese Figures
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Meiji period Korean six-panel screen depicting legendary Chinese figures on individual panels with birds and blossoming flowers. Each panel is signed Kakusai (studio of the crane) in...
Category
20th Century Korean Meiji Paintings
Materials
Wood, Silk, Paper
Japanese Screen pair. Late 19th Century. Ink Pine Trees on Gold by Suzuki Shonen
Located in Kyoto, JP
Suzuki Shonen (1848-1918)
Meiji period (1868-1912), late 19th century.
Twisted pines
Pair of six-fold screens. Ink on a gold leaf ground.
Sig...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf
Japanese Six-Panel Screen, Winter Landscape with Flowering Plum
Located in Hudson, NY
Japanese six-panel screen: Winter landscape with flowering plum, Meiji period (1868-1912) painting of a full moon with wild grasses between river's edge and a snow covered plum tree ...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf
Japanese Two Panel Screen Summer Flowers on Silver
Located in Hudson, NY
Japanese two panel screen: Summer flowers on silver. Meiji period painting (1868 - 1912) of Summer flowers including morning glories and daisies against a garden fence. Signature and...
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Silver Leaf
Meiji Period Japanese Four Panel Screen Bijin At Leisure
Located in Hudson, NY
Japanese four panel screen: Bijin At Leisure. Ladies in a tea house with a small dog. Seal reads "Ensan dai" (drawn by Ensan). Meiji Period (1868 - 1912) pa...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Silk, Wood
Three Japanese Paintings of Mount Fuji
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Set of three perspectives of the iconic Mount Fuji painted with gouache, now under glass, in bold colors with architecture, bridges, boats, people, and trees all with the same confid...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings
Materials
Paint
Japanese Two-Panel Screen Three Jewels of Buddhism
Located in Hudson, NY
Japanese two-panel screen: Three Jewels of Buddhism. Meiji period (1868-1912) painting. The three jewels of Buddhism are the teacher, the lesson, and the ...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Silk, Wood, Paper
Japanese Two Panel Screen Nara Deer in Gentle Yoshino Landscape
Located in Hudson, NY
Japanese two panel screen: Nara Deer in Gentle Yoshino Landscape. Yoshino is in the Nara Prefecture, an area famous for these small and tame deer native to J...
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf
Japanese Two-Panel Screen Peony, Wisteria, Cherry and Bamboo on Soft Silver
Located in Hudson, NY
Japanese two-panel screen: Peony, Wisteria, cherry and bamboo on soft silver, Meiji period (1868-1912) painting of a garden in spring. Painted in mineral pigments on oxidized silver ...
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Silver Leaf
Japanese Two-Panel Screen Whimsical Beast
Located in Hudson, NY
Japanese two-panel screen: Whimsical beast. Wonderful, Meiji period (1868-1912) painting of a bellowing lion executed in a very fine style with excellent and thoughtful details. A tr...
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Silk, Wood, Paper
Fine Japanese Brush Painting of Cherry Blossom Festival
Located in Greenwich, CT
Fine Japanese brush painting of cherry blossom festival, ink and color on silk, 19th century, museum conservation framed.
Overall size: 68" hi...
Category
1880s Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Silk
Yamamoto Shunkyo (1871-1933) Japanese Framed Painting Pair, Carp and Bamboo
Located in Kyoto, JP
Two framed panels by Yamamoto Shunkyo depicting a carp (koi) leaping from a river.
Ink and gold leaf on paper.
Instinctively brushed in a freehand s...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf
19th Century Japanese Six Panel Screen: Silver Moon Rising Over Summer Field
Located in Hudson, NY
Japanese Six Panel Screen: Silver Moon Rising Over Summer Field. Rimpa Style painting of a moon rising over summer flowers and grasses, including cockscomb and blue bellflowers. Pa...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf
Japanese Four Panel Screen: Early Spring Into Summer
Located in Hudson, NY
Japanese Four Panel Screen: Early Spring Into Summer, Meiji period (1868 -1912) painting of plum in bloom with red camellias on the right and peony and thistle on the left. A clutc...
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf
Japanese Six-Panel Screen "Wild Grasses and Peonies by Rivers Edge"
Located in Hudson, NY
Japanese Six Panel Screen: Wild Grasses and Peonies by Rivers Edge. Early Meiji period (1868 - 1912) painting of a grassy knoll next to a running brook or river. A soft breeze is m...
Category
1880s Japanese Antique Meiji Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf
Meiji paintings for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Meiji paintings for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Early 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage paintings created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include wall decorations, asian art and furniture and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with paper, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Meiji paintings made in a specific country, there are Asia, East Asia, and Japan pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original paintings, popular names associated with this style include and Shunyu. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for paintings differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $800 and tops out at $63,250 while the average work can sell for $12,000.
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