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Description

円山応挙 Maruyama Okyo (1733-1795) Japanese antique art Paired kakejiku kakemono wall hanging scrolls / Waves and Wagtail with Appraised Box RD872

This scroll comes with an appraised box by 相見香雨 Aimi Kou (1874-1970).

円山応挙 Maruyama Okyo (1733-1795)
Painter of the late Edo period, founder of the Maruyama school. Initially, he learned the painting techniques of the Kano school from 石田幽汀 Ishida Yutei (1721-1786) in Kyoto. He left behind ink paintings with the sharp brushwork and broken ink style characteristic of the Kano School, as well as works influenced by Western-style painting. Later, he created a unique, plain Okyo style that skillfully combined decorative elements with smooth lines and sketchy elements. In particular, he skillfully depicted a wide variety of subjects, including Sansui landscapes, flowers and birds, and figures, and many of his large paintings, such as fusuma paintings and folding screens, are masterpieces. Many painters gathered under his tutelage and formed the Maruyama School.

Age: 1793 Early Summer / 寛政癸丑初夏
with signature 'Okyo' 應挙 and seal 'Okyo' 應挙 'Chusen' 仲選

相見香雨 Aimi Kou (1874-1970)
Japanese art historian and newspaper reporter. His real name was Aimi Shigeichi. He continued his empirical research as an independent scholar for approximately 60 years until his death at the age of 96, earning him the reputation within art history circles as a ‘great independent scholar’ (Tanaka Ichimatsu). The handwritten research records he compiled throughout his life amount to 42 volumes comprising 240 books (held by Kyushu University's Faculty of Letters). At the age of 87, he was awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon and the Order of the Rising Sun, Fourth Class, Gold Rays with Rosette.

This elegant Japanese hanging scroll features a delicate painting of a wagtail (sekirei) poised above gentle waves, rendered by Maruyama Ōkyo (1733–1795), the founder of the Maruyama school and a master of naturalistic expression in Edo-period painting. The inscription above the seal reads “Kansei Mizunoe-Ushi Shoka” (Early Summer, 1793), placing the work in the final years of Ōkyo’s life, when his brushwork reached a state of refined simplicity and poetic depth.
In Japanese symbolism:
- The wagtail represents agility, purity, and seasonal transition, often associated with water and autumn.
- The waves evoke movement, impermanence, and the quiet rhythm of nature.
- Together, they form a composition that reflects harmony between life and environment, a hallmark of Ōkyo’s style. The scroll is accompanied by an authentication box (kanteibako) signed by Aimi Kō (1874–1970), a respected connoisseur and scholar of Japanese painting, confirming the work’s provenance and historical significance. Ideal for collectors of Edo-period art, Maruyama school painting, or symbolic nature compositions, this piece offers both aesthetic refinement and cultural resonance.

Whole dimensions: 20.8" W x 75.6" H / 53cm x 192.1cm
Inside dimensions: 13.3" W x 41.1" H / 34cm x 104.4cm

Material: Silk
Technique: Handpainted
Roller ends: Bone

Weight: 1430g including Appraised Box

Condition

Antique items have originally crease, stain, damage, and more. I would like you to refer to the listing photos, but please understand that it's difficult to show all conditions by the photos. Special notes: STAIN a little, CREASE a little, WARP, STAIN DAMAGE in the back of the mounting.

About the colors of the photos

The color of the actual item may look different from the picture because of the lighting. The color on a photo can differ because of light, screen settings, personal color perception, etc. Please understand that we can't control the varying light in different environments. Please read the description, check the actual photos, and ask questions if doubts in advance.

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