By Kano Isen’in Naganobu (1775-1828), signed Isen hogen hitsu and sealedJapan, early 19th century (ca. 1800-1828)Finely painted with ink and watercolors on gold-foiled paper. With a silk brocade frame and mounted to a black-lacquered wood screen with gilt-metal fittings, the larger ones incised with foliate scroll against a ring-punched ground and the smaller ones in the form of peony blossoms.Depicting two ladies and several boys and girls of different ages on a terrace amid thick clouds with mountains in the background. The work further shows a masterfully executed gnarled old tree with stylized green leaves, a flowering plum tree, and bamboo leaves. The ladies and children are dressed in loose-fitting, elegant robes and the younger ones are playing about in a dynamic manner.Signed to lower left: ISEN hogen hitsu and with a seal.SIZE 182 x 91 cm (each panel)Condition: Good condition with old wear, minor abrasions, soiling, creasing, small tears and losses, minor touchups and old repairs.Provenance: From a Swiss private collection.Kano Isen’in Naganobu (1775-1828) was an important Japanese painter, the son and pupil of Kano Yosen'in Korenobu (1753-1808), whom he succeeded as seventh-generation head of the Kobikicho branch of theEdo Kano school founded by Kano Naonobu (1607-50). As such he would have had privileged access to study antique Chinese and Japanese paintings in the collections of the Shogunate and feudal lords. Naganobu was granted the title ‘hogen’ (‘Eye of the Law’) in 1802 and was subsequently elevated to the highest ‘hoin’ (Seal of the Law) rank in 1816.