Very unusual 1905-1915 Japanese scroll painted with ink and slight colors on silk depicting Japanese soldiers rushing towards a fortress through exploding shells, with the ones who reached the wall building a human pyramid allowing to raise the Japanese flag on top of the wall, all among snow dusting. Painted by Kobayashi Kiyochika (1847 – 1915), who is considered to be the last of the significant Japanese classic ukiyo-e (woodblock print) artist. Kiyochika was known for depiction of Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese wars in woodblock prints, and actual paintings by the artist are extremely rare. Most probably the scene represents an episode of the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-05. Excellent quality painting, beautiful use of ink washes to represent terrain, shell fragments and soldier’s uniforms, excellent depiction of falling snow, very clever use of minimal color accents. Signed by the artist in English and Japanese, and inscribed in Japanese “Oite Ueno tokiwa”, which can be translated as “At Ueno like a rock that does not change”. I believe it is a particular military motto referring to the Battle of Ueno in 1868, which ended with the victory of the Imperial troops over the forces of the Shogunate. Paper and silk mounts, lengthy inscription outside the scroll (see details on Enlargement 6), overall in great condition, comes with fitted wooden storage box. Painting size 44 x 16.5 inches, scroll size 75 x 21 inches.

Reserve: $800.00

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