19th century, ink and colors on paper with brocade borders, large squares of paper applied to screen and painted with a variety of figures including some Buddhist Arhats, all figures have fantastic expressive faces and body gestures, an unusual feature of the painting are the small kanji characters and katakana writing instructing on the color and ink application to sections of the composition, these are probably instructions from the master painter of a studio who created the ink outlines and details of painting, to his apprentices whom completed the composition with color and ink washes, adding even more uniqueness to this screen is the contemporary Picasso painting on the backside executed by a number of friends of the consignor one evening at a party.

DOA 67.75 x 74 in.

The Japanese have a long tradition of having painting studios and workshops led by a master painter with apprentices assisting with the work. This screen is an example of this practice and you can clearly see the skill level of the master painter in the expressions and body positions, while the workshop apprentices completing the coloring, shading, and ink washes in not the same level of skill.


Some lifting to edges of paper; some loss to paper; toning of paper; some areas of water spots and staining to bottom of screen; the reverse of screen has some tears and loss to backing material.

$400 - 800