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Neck-Pulling Game between Hotei and a Sennin, dated autumn of 1895

Creator: Matsuzaka Saiho
Offered by: Thomsen Gallery

Description
Matsuzaka Saiho 松坂菜圃
Neck-Pulling Game between Hotei and a Sennin, dated autumn of 1895
Image Size 26½ x 26¼ in. (67.8 x 66.5 cm)
Overall Size 56¾ x 31 in. (144 x 79 cm)
T-1498

Hotei testing his power against an old hermit, painting in ink and colors on paper. The extensive inscription describeds a kubihiki contest between Hotel and a Chinese Sennin: humorous text with reference to the contest, to drinking large amounts of sake, and so on. Signed: “Painted by Rairai Sanjin” 磊々山人画
Seals: 1) “The seal of Matsuzaka” 松坂之印 and 2) Saiho 菜圃
Artist names used by Matsuzaka Saiho: Ken 謙， Kenji 謙治， Unseki 雲石, and Rairai Sanjin 磊々山人
References:
Hiramatsu Kanji 平松勘治. Nagasaki yûgakusha jiten 長崎遊学者事典.
Keisuisha 渓水社, 1999 松坂菜圃; 別名: 謙，謙治，雲石，磊々山人 Signed: “Painted by Rairai Sanjin” 磊々山人画
Seals: 1) “The seal of Matsuzaka” 松坂之印 2) Saiho 菜圃
Artist names used by Matsuzaka Saiho include: Ken 謙， Kenji 謙治， Unseki 雲石, and Rairai Sanjin 磊々山人

Biography:
Matsuzaka Saiho was born in Sendai and showed early promise as a painter. He was first taught by Kakizaki Shinsai 蠣崎縉齊 (1785-1863), a leading early modern Sendai painters, who was a Shijô painter stemming from the Iwate prefecture.

Later the artist traveled to Nagasaki, where he was taught by the famous Zen abbot and painter, Tetsuô Somon 鉄翁祖門 (1791-1872), a Nanga painter who specialized in ink paintings of orchids and bamboo.

Saiho traveled wide in Japan and left his paintings at a number of places. He was noted for his Chinese themes, as can be seen in this painting of a neck-pulling contest between Hotei and a Chinese sage.

References:
Hiramatsu Kanji 平松勘治. Nagasaki yûgakusha jiten 長崎遊学者事典.
Keisuisha 渓水社, 1999, 13

Kikuta Sadasato 菊田定郷. Sendai jinmei daijisho 仙台人名大辞書． Tokyo: Rekishi Toshosha 歴史図書社, 1974

Ōbayashi Akio 大林昭雄. Sendai gajinden 仙台画人伝. Sendai: Gyararī Ōbayashi ギャラリー大林, 1991

More Information

Documentation:	Signed
Period:	19th Century
Creation Date:	1895
Styles / Movements:	Asian Art
Incollect Reference #:	827040

Dimensions

W.	31 in;	H.	56.75 in;
W.	78.74 cm;	H.	144.15 cm;

Message from Seller:

Thomsen Gallery, now located at 8 East 67th Street, New York City, NY 10065, specializes in important Japanese paintings, folding screens, hanging scrolls, ceramics, ikebana bamboo baskets, lacquerware, and contemporary works by select artists. Owned and directed by Erik and Cornelia Thomsen, the gallery brings decades of expertise in Japanese art to a global clientele, including private collectors and major museums. For inquiries, contact them at 212-288-2588 or info@thomsengallery.com.