Anon. Tosa School Japanese Interior Scene

An original pre 18th-century watercolour painting Tosa School Japanese Interior Scene.

A delightful Japanese illustration, believed to date from the 17th century, in ink, colour, gofun and gold on paper with embroidered mount.

This work is in the style of the Tosa School, characterised by areas of flat opaque colour enclosed by simple outlines, where drawing is precise and conventional. Founded in the 13th century by Fujiwara Tsunetaka, who bore the title of Tosa Gon no Kami, this school was newly focused on subjects and methods that were thoroughly Japanese, in contrast to earlier schools, which were heavily influenced by Chinese Buddhist subjects and Chinese styles. Tosa School paintings often depicted scenes relating to the courtly life of Kyoto, and many were inspired by the court romance 'Genji Monogatari'. Often, in order to depict interior scenes, the roofs would be left of buildings to expose the scene within. The interest in painting everyday life of the Tosa school was influential on the ukiyo-e school of paintings and prints.

In ink, colour, gofun and gold on paper with embroidered mount. The back of the sheet is lined.