By Watanabe Kazan (1793-1841), signed Kazan Gaishi ga, two seals
Japan, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

Painted with ink and watercolors on silk and mounted as a hanging scroll with a silk brocade frame and bone rollers (jiku), depicting a spotted deer standing foursquare on the grassy ground amid tall reeds. With a long inscription to the right with the signature KAZAN Gaishi ga (painted by Kazan the Recluse).

SIZE 147 x 42 cm (image) and 207 x 64 cm (incl mounting)

Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, creasing, and little soiling.
Provenance: From a US private collection in New York.

Watanabe Kazan was born Watanabe Sadayasu in Edo (Tokyo) to a poor samurai family, and his artistic talent was developed from an early age. His family served the lord of the Tahara Domain, located in present-day Aichi prefecture. Watanabe himself served the lord of Tahara as a senior counselor, one of his achievements being said to be protecting the domain from even a single death from starvation during the Tenpo famine. He was heavily influenced by the artistic styles of the West, forming a unique style with elements of Japanese and European art. On the one hand, he was a traditionalist Confucian, who believed in filial piety and loyalty to his daimyo, and on the other he was enthusiastic about Western ideas regarding science and politics. He wrote two private essays which were interpreted as being critical of the Shogunate's defense of Tokyo Bay and promoting Western ideas. Although these papers were discarded by Watanabe, they were found, and he was tried and exiled to his home province of Tahara. One of the conditions of his exile was that he wouldn't sell his paintings, however Watanabe continued selling his paintings in secret due to financial hardships. This was eventually discovered, leading to the suppression of his works and house arrest. Due to the political turmoil involved in this, Watanabe committed ritual suicide (seppuku) to amend for the embarrassment he caused his lord.

With a wood storage box inscribed Watanabe Kazan shika no zu (Watanabe Kazan, picture of a deer) to the cover and with a long inscription and two seals to the interior of the cover.