MOCHIZUKI GYOKUSEN (1794-1852)

Chrysanthemum and Rock

Details

MOCHIZUKI GYOKUSEN (1794-1852)
Chrysanthemum and Rock
On right screen dated Tsuchinoeinu natsu go o Okada shi ju (1838 summer fifth month, commissioned by Okada), sealed Gyokusen and Mochiteru no in with two illegible seals; on left screen signed Gyokusen Mochiteru koi, sealed Shigeteru no in and Shiei with a illigible seal
Pair of six-panel screen; ink, color, gofun, gold and silver leaf on paper
60 3/4 x 96 3/8 in. (154.3 x 244.8 cm.) each approx.


Lot Essay

Mochizuki Gyokusen 玉川 is the third generation of Mochizuki lineage, son of Gyokusen玉仙 (1744-1795) and father of Gyokusen 玉泉 (1834-1913). In his early years, he was known for working on the ninomaru court at Kanazawa Castle as Kishi Ganku’s pupil in 1809. Later he looked up to Matsumura Goshun (1752-1811) of Shijo School and added the bold naturalistic brush style to his own works.
In the present lot, Gyokusen filled up the space with the large, fully-blossomed chrysanthemum. White blooms elaborated with gofunand luxuriant green leaves protrude fearlessly from the naturalistically painted fences and rocks. Gyokusen employed silver leaves to represent the earth slopes (doha). It is not common to have large areas of silver leaf on a gold-leaf ground screen, and traditionally the use of silver leaf is meant for a night scene, usually with a moon in the picture. The silver earth slopes in the present work perhaps demonstrate the moonlight reflection, subtly suggesting a poetic scene of chysanthemum under the moon.