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Lot 344*

Nagasawa Rosetsu (1754-1799)
Edo Period, late 18th century

Fine Japanese Art
11 November 2010, 14:30 GMT
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £5,760 inc. premium

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Nagasawa Rosetsu (1754-1799)

Edo Period, late 18th century
Kakejiku, in ink and slight colour on paper, depicting an Autumnal moonlit scene of a mimizuku (horned owl) perched on the top of a cliff, the full moon in the distance, signed Rosetsu with two seals Nagasawa and Gyo, a three-line inscription by the Bunjinga artist Minagawa Kien (1734-1807), signed Minagawa Gen sho with two seals Minagawa Gen in and Hakkyo shi; with wood storage box. 124.5cm x 27.7cm (49in x 10 7/8in). (2).

Footnotes

月下木莬図　長澤蘆雪筆、皆川淇園賛　一幅　紙本淡彩　江戸時代（18世紀後期）

Rosetsu was born into a low-ranking samurai family. He entered Maruyama Okyo's studio and became arguably the most talented of the Master's pupils. An eccentric and violent character, he was allegedly expelled from Okyo's studio due to his idiosyncratic manner. After becoming independent he developed his own style. He was particularly fond of animal subjects.

This is an unusual subject-matter, since the owl was considered to be an ill omen until well into the 16th century. Its glaring eyes at night were said to resemble ghosts, causing artists to avoid painting the bird (if at all) with open eyes. However its image changed with the warrior samurai making the bird an emblem of unsleeping alertness, as its faculties of seeing in the darkness made it a professor of great wisdom. Zen teachers found in its noiseless flight a symbol of calm and equanimity.

Compare with another painting by the artist depicting an owl in the moonlight, illustrated by John M. Rosenfield and Shujiro Shimada, Traditions of Japanese Art: Selections from the Kimiko and John Powers Collection, p.221, no.88, Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University 1970.

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