QIU YING BI MEI REN: QIU YING BRUSH PAINTING OF BEAUTIFUL WOWOMEN. Japanese Titl

[Japan ca. 1800-1810]. Hand scroll, silk brocade cloth, with ribbon tie,ivory clip,painted on fine hand-made crushed mica flecked Washi paper, giving a sparkling effect, very long: 27.5 x 6m.48 cm.,very clean, solid 21 color paintings. RARE! . *** *** *** . . . YAMAKAWA'S TRIBUTE PAINTING TO . . . THE FAMOUS MING DYNASTY CHINESE PAINTER . . . CH'IU YING [QIU YING] [1494?-1522] . . . A STUNNING GOUACHE COLOR PAINTED CHINESE SCROLL . * WHO WAS YAMAKAWA SHUHO [SHUUHOO] [1898-1944]: . Was a well-known Japanese painter, who specialized in birds and flowers under Ikegami Shuho [Shuuho], and from whom he derived his studio name. He also studied Bijinga [pictures of beautiful women] under Kaburagi Kiyokata. . There is a signature and four red cinnabar Hanko [seals or chops], two of which are small square shaped with Yamakawa's first name "Shu hoh" just left of his signature. Even though there is no last name indicated, these two Hanko match known seals he used. . A large square Hanko left of Yamakawa's seals, partially read: "NO ZO SHOI," meaning "Ex-Libras" or a former owner's copy. The fourth seal at the lower right, is a large circle reading SHU-HOH. . There is not date anywhere or indication of a date on the painting. It is more than likely the work was done sometime after circa 1918 when he was twenty years old or older. . *** THE SUBJECT. We know Yamakawa's appreciation and admiration of Ch'iu Ying is understandable. It would be entirely appropriate for artists to keep and refer to earlier Chinese and Japanese master's works, or even show respect by painting a 'tribute' inspired by an earlier or famous artist of the classic Ming and other dynasties. . The skill of the brush strokes, coloring and delicacy of the lines, the composition follows the Chinese style of earlier dynasties. . The work was expertly executed by a Japanese artist. In scene 18, there is a small note in Katakana, on the screen near the bronze gong, indicating the softness of the color. . Yamakawa admired beautiful ladies and painted them as well as created a large number of stunning color woodblock prints illustrating a variety of Japanese Bijin [beauties]. . *** THE CHINESE MASTER CH'IU YING [QIU YING]: Per the brushed title slip on the exterior of the scroll, and the first brushed name listed at the beginning of the scroll, there are Hanzi [Chinese characters] reading: "CH'IU YING" [QIU YING] the name of the original artist which inspired this Yamakawa artist to produce this tribute. . Continuing with the same brush and writing style below is also the brush-written name at the beginning of the scroll: "Shuuhoo Sei," followed by "Dai Jushi go" ["Number 40"]. The significance is moot, but can be a numbering system of chronological 'tributes' Yamakawa painted. . *** THE FOUR HANKO [cinnabar-red Seals or chops]: There are a total of four red cinnabar Hanko found at the beginning of this scroll. There are two small square red cinnabar Hanko at the beginning, just left of the signature reading: "Shu hoh." . *** DATING: According to the kind of silk brocade binding and Washi [hand-made] paper, this painting is from the early part of the 20th century, circa 1908-1912. Most likely painted when Yamakawa was in his early twenties. Other examples of his paintings during this time frame have a similarities. . The work is painted on period Japanese Washi [hand-made] paper, with its distinctive mica-flecks. The use of mica on paper is a very special, seldom used. It takes far above average artistic skill and masterly technique to paint on this kind of specialty paper. In additions, mica-flecked paper is seldom used due its extravagant expense. The results of painting mica-flecked paper is that a subtle 'shimmering' comes through the gouache producing a lovely effect. . *** A NOTE ABOUT "TRIBUTE" PAINTINGS: Yamakawa was a known admirer of earlier Chinese and Japanese dynasty painters. His production of "tribute" paintings in the style of old master artists was a way for hi.…