SESSON SHUKEI: A RARE PAINTING OF KINKO SENNI... Lot n° 354

Sealed Sesson and Shukei Japan, 16th century, Muromachi period (1336-1573) A large and expressively painted image of Kinko Sennin (in Chinese Qin Gao) reading from a scroll and riding on a gigantic carp, the latter with a crazed expression with large eyes. The large dynamically painted tail of the carp swings above the head of the Sennin, as the pair emerge from the mist around them. Note the fine and wise expression of the immortal, and the finely painted fingers which hold the scroll. Framed under glass and set onto a European passe-partout. Satake Shukei (born Satake Heizo, 1504 – c. 1589) was a Japanese Zen Monk painter from the Muromachi period, also known as the last great Muromachi ink painter. His painting style is influenced by ink paintings imported from China, his works being some of the earliest examples of ink painting in Japan, infused with traditional subjects imbued with a power and originality, so unique to Japanese painting. He was known to have painted Sennin, and another Kinko Sennin is in the collection of the Kyoto National Museum, designated as a culturally important object (Juyo Bunkazai). One square seal to the lower right reading SHUKEI and another potseal (tsubo-in) reading SESSON. Both seals are a close match to the artist’s seal repertoire, present on authenticated works in museum collections. SIZE (painting only) 130 x 53 cm, SIZE (with frame) 151.7 x 74 cm Condition: Very good age-related condition. The painting has been set onto a passe-partout. Expected creases, minor losses, fading coherent with the age and comparable works from the period. Provenance: German private collection acquired from Kunsthandel Klefisch in Cologne with an E-mail from Trudel Klefisch stating (translated from German): “A work with the signature of the ink painter Satake Shukei, who was known under his monk name Sesson, and lived between 1504-89(?). I have acquired the painting from Werner Funke in Cologne. Mr. Funk