ARTIST : The signature reads Gado. The first seal reads Oyama Ryu no in and the second seal reads Gado. Oyama Gado (Oyama Ryuichiro) was born in Tochigi in 1902. He was a student of Komuro Suiun and exhibited with the Teiten on four occasions. He was a member of the Nihon Nangain (Japan Nanga Institute) which was led by his teacher Komuro Suiun, Yano Kyoson and Mizuta Chikuho. The group explored widely in search of new forms of expression within the borders of nanga using their orthodox training as a foundation and coupling that with a desire to express more personal and 'realistic' representations of nature. See Literati Modern, bunjinga from late Edo to twentieth-century Japan: the Terry Welch collection at the Honolulu Academy of Arts/ Paul Berry and Michiyo Morioka, 2008, pp. 32-33.
AGE : early fall of Taisho 14, 1925
SIZE : The screen stands 68 inches high and measures 67 inches across.
DESCRIPTION : A two-fold screen depicting a nanga or literati landscape scene that speaks loudly of the luxurious sensibilities of the period. Gado has managed to elicit a remarkably fresh and compelling work from not only a traditional subject source but also utilizing traditional literati brush techniques. His breathtakingly detailed brushwork fills the screen and merges to create a rich and pulsating scene where the rock formations appear alive with rippling musculature.
TECHNIQUE : The work has been painted on silk with ink and light color.
CONDITION : The painting is in reasonable condition though it would benefit from restoration (please contact me directly for details). The painting is free from foxing and largely free of marks. Slight losses at the lower center and a weakening screen hinge are the biggest concerns.
