Watanabe Nangaku “Beauty and Servant”

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IItem No.
Title	“Beauty and Servant”／Color on silk
Overall size	193.0cm×54.0cm
Artwork size	112.0cm×41.4cm
Artist	Watanabe Nangaku (1767-1813)
Date Created	1767-1813
Price	￥700,000（excluding tax）

　A man and a woman are walking together in a quiet snowy landscape. Viewer can feel the tranquility from this picture.
　The woman with the Shimada topknot is dazzlingly white and so beautiful that one cannot help but admire her. The lines around her eyes, which are drawn in a sweeping, upward motion, are blurred, adding a sense of mystery to her dark pupils. The eyebrows are drawn one by one with thin, pale black ink lines, giving them a soft, fluffy texture.
　The kimono and obi are decorated with patterns using gold paint and Gunze blue. The hem of the kimono is decorated with a graceful pattern that appears to be a clematis arabesque. The clematis is an auspicious design that signifies a strong bond because of its hard tendrils. It is also used in bridal gowns.

　The man holding the box, probably a woman’s possession, bends down slightly and looks cold with his right hand tucked in. He looks as if he is concerned about something as he looks back.
　The pattern of the vertically striped robe is curved along the lines of the body, giving it a three-dimensional appearance.

　They are probably a geisha and her servant. The way they are cuddling and the somber expressions on their faces give the viewer a sense of foreboding, and the work is full of various imaginative possibilities.

　Watanabe Nangaku (1767-1813) was a painter of the Maruyama school and one of the ten great masters of Okyo. He produced a number of excellent paintings of beautiful women, such as this one. The Tsuruga City Museum also owns “Geisha and Young Men,” which depicts a man and a woman like this work, and it is thought that this was one of Nangaku’s favorite subjects.

As an antique, it may have some scratches or blemishes. We recommend that you visit our store to check the condition.
If you wish, we will send you detailed photos of the item, so please feel free to contact us.