A Japanese Four Panel Nanga Landscape Screen with Gold Ground

Meiji period (1868-1912), dated summer 1906, ink and mineral pigments on gold leaf paper, four wide panels fitted as a folding screen byobu painted in the Chinese-style with an expansive mountainous river landscape that unfolds with dramatic rocky outcrops, distant peaks, scattered pavilions, and tiny boats traversing calm waters, in the upper right corner is a Chinese inscription in ink, reverse with paper mounting set into a black folding screen frame with metal hardware.

Open screen 66 x 149 x 1 in.; Each panel 66 x 37 in.

The inscription is a poem that reads: Spring mountains are like a noble person, river waters are like fine wine. and is dated "painted in the summer month of the Bingwu year" which would correspond to 1906. The four panel screen format became more popular during the Meiji period as screeens began to be exported to Western homes.

Overall very good condition; repaired tear to second and third panels at lower corners; some tears to backing paper on reverse side.

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