Set of Japanese Hanging Scrolls by Watanabe Shōka, “Pine,Bamboo and Ume”.
Watanabe Shōka (1835~1887):
Samurai and painter from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji period. The second son of the very famous Kazan Watanabe. A chief retainer of the Tahara clan in Mikawa (Aichi Prefecture). He studied painting with Tsubakiyama and Hanka Fukuda, economic history with Ohashi Rakuan, and poetry with Sekine Chido. He was good at painting flowers and birds. Died on December 29, 1899. He is 53 years old. His name is Kanou. Shoka has long stood in the shadow of his very famous father, but recently the art world has started to recognize his talent
Watanabe Shōka was born in 1835 in the Edo clan’s residence as the second child of Watanabe Kazan. It is said that Watanabe Shōka was a strong looking man similar to Kazan. In 1841, Kazan committed suicide, but he endured the sadness with his wise grandmother and gentle mother’s help. In 1844, Shōka went to Edo and became a disciple of Tsubaki Chinzan. Shōka, who had been improving his painting skills under Chinzan for more than ten years, became the head of his family in 1856. He went to Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture in 1874, then moved to Hyakkaen in 1877, and had a painting room there until 1882. In 1877, he got Kamonshō prize at the 1st Naikoku Kangyō Hakurankai exhibition, which was held at Ueno Park. This era was called Shōka’s era of Hyakkaen, because many flowers were planted in front of his garden and he enjoyed the flowers of the four seasons.
Signature & Seal:
Shōka (Watanabe)
Scroll Box:
Wooden box
Roller Ends:
Wood
Technique:
Handpainted on Paper
Condition:
Refer to all pictures, wrinkles, stain
Size:
2 x 53.3cm x 198.5cm / 20.9″ x 78.1″