13th Jun, 2025 10:00

Fine Japanese Art

 
Lot 318
 

318

HATTA KOYO: PICKING JUNSAI

Starting price
€7,500
Estimate
€15,000
 

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Lot details

By Hatta Koyo (1882-1944), signed Koyo with seal Seisui
Japan, circa 1910

Ink and watercolors on paper. Each mounted on a pair of two wood panels. Finely painted to depict a Tsumiko (junsai picker) sitting inside a flat-bottomed tub as she reaches into the water with one hand, feeling for Junsai buds, and pinches them off the stem, collecting it in her bucket. A bamboo raft to the side with another bucket resting on the top. The pristine water is painted with lily pads rendered in an impressionist manner, a small duck preens itself, partially hidden by tall reeds.

Inscriptions: To the bottom left, signed Koyo 高容 with seal Seisui 青翠.

SIZE 171.5 x 186 cm (each)

Condition:
Very good with minor wear and good colors. Some soiling and minor flaking to pigment. The back with wear, signs of use, and small losses. Tears and losses to the joints with associated repairs.
Provenance: From the private estate of Dr. Glenn and Carol Webb. Dr. Glenn Webb (1935-2024) was a noted scholar of Japanese art history, culture, and Buddhism. Dr. Webb was ordained in the Rinzai Zen priesthood and became an accredited instructor of Urasenke chanoyu. In 2011, Webb was bestowed the Order of the Rising Sun by His Imperial Majesty the Emperor Akihito in honor of his contributions to the field of Japanese studies, his accomplishments as a tea ceremony master, and his work in strengthening ties between the U.S. and Japan.

Hatta Koyo (1882-1944) was a Japanese painter active from the Meiji to early Showa periods. He used the art names Seisui and Seiro and initially studied under Nakajima Yusho. At the very young age of 14, he studied under Takeuchi Seiho, mastering the Shijo school. He was selected for the 1st Bunten Exhibition in 1907, and was also selected for the Teiten Exhibition in 1919. He was nominated for the Teiten in 1929. He further studied with Nishimura Goun and Nishiyama Suisho, and was known as one of the ‘Three gifted students’.

Junsai, often called watershield in English, is a perennial aquatic plant with edible buds that are considered a delicacy in Japanese cuisine. Its small, round leaves float on the surface of shallow ponds, and the prized buds develop just below the surface. Because edible junsai can only be grown in places with excellent water quality, areas fed by runoff from Shirakami Sanchi’s pristine wilderness are ideal for its cultivation. Akita Prefecture is known for producing an overwhelming 90 percent of Japan’s junsai, and most of it comes from the town of Mitane.

Junsai has several recognized health benefits deriving from its high fiber and polyphenol content. In Japanese cuisine, it is commonly added to soups and hot pots, or eaten with a dressing of soy sauce and wasabi. Junsai-picking season runs from mid-May through August.

The exchange between Impressionism and Japanese art was a profound and influential dialogue. Impressionist artists like Claude Monet were deeply inspired by Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints, particularly those by Hokusai and Hiroshige. Monet collected hundreds of these prints and adopted their esthetic elements—flattened perspective, bold colors, and asymmetrical composition—into his own work. This influence is especially clear in his iconic water lily series and Japanese bridge scenes, which reflect the stylized yet naturalistic qualities of Japanese landscapes.

Conversely, Monet and the broader Impressionist movement left their mark on Japanese artists during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The yōga (Western-style) movement embraced elements of Impressionism, as seen in Koyo’s depiction of junsai leaves, which echoes the loose, luminous treatment of Monet’s water lilies. This mutual influence highlights a rich cross-cultural artistic exchange that reshaped visual language in both Europe and Japan.

 

By Hatta Koyo (1882-1944), signed Koyo with seal Seisui
Japan, circa 1910

Ink and watercolors on paper. Each mounted on a pair of two wood panels. Finely painted to depict a Tsumiko (junsai picker) sitting inside a flat-bottomed tub as she reaches into the water with one hand, feeling for Junsai buds, and pinches them off the stem, collecting it in her bucket. A bamboo raft to the side with another bucket resting on the top. The pristine water is painted with lily pads rendered in an impressionist manner, a small duck preens itself, partially hidden by tall reeds.

Inscriptions: To the bottom left, signed Koyo 高容 with seal Seisui 青翠.

SIZE 171.5 x 186 cm (each)

Condition:
Very good with minor wear and good colors. Some soiling and minor flaking to pigment. The back with wear, signs of use, and small losses. Tears and losses to the joints with associated repairs.
Provenance: From the private estate of Dr. Glenn and Carol Webb. Dr. Glenn Webb (1935-2024) was a noted scholar of Japanese art history, culture, and Buddhism. Dr. Webb was ordained in the Rinzai Zen priesthood and became an accredited instructor of Urasenke chanoyu. In 2011, Webb was bestowed the Order of the Rising Sun by His Imperial Majesty the Emperor Akihito in honor of his contributions to the field of Japanese studies, his accomplishments as a tea ceremony master, and his work in strengthening ties between the U.S. and Japan.

Hatta Koyo (1882-1944) was a Japanese painter active from the Meiji to early Showa periods. He used the art names Seisui and Seiro and initially studied under Nakajima Yusho. At the very young age of 14, he studied under Takeuchi Seiho, mastering the Shijo school. He was selected for the 1st Bunten Exhibition in 1907, and was also selected for the Teiten Exhibition in 1919. He was nominated for the Teiten in 1929. He further studied with Nishimura Goun and Nishiyama Suisho, and was known as one of the ‘Three gifted students’.

Junsai, often called watershield in English, is a perennial aquatic plant with edible buds that are considered a delicacy in Japanese cuisine. Its small, round leaves float on the surface of shallow ponds, and the prized buds develop just below the surface. Because edible junsai can only be grown in places with excellent water quality, areas fed by runoff from Shirakami Sanchi’s pristine wilderness are ideal for its cultivation. Akita Prefecture is known for producing an overwhelming 90 percent of Japan’s junsai, and most of it comes from the town of Mitane.

Junsai has several recognized health benefits deriving from its high fiber and polyphenol content. In Japanese cuisine, it is commonly added to soups and hot pots, or eaten with a dressing of soy sauce and wasabi. Junsai-picking season runs from mid-May through August.

The exchange between Impressionism and Japanese art was a profound and influential dialogue. Impressionist artists like Claude Monet were deeply inspired by Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints, particularly those by Hokusai and Hiroshige. Monet collected hundreds of these prints and adopted their esthetic elements—flattened perspective, bold colors, and asymmetrical composition—into his own work. This influence is especially clear in his iconic water lily series and Japanese bridge scenes, which reflect the stylized yet naturalistic qualities of Japanese landscapes.

Conversely, Monet and the broader Impressionist movement left their mark on Japanese artists during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The yōga (Western-style) movement embraced elements of Impressionism, as seen in Koyo’s depiction of junsai leaves, which echoes the loose, luminous treatment of Monet’s water lilies. This mutual influence highlights a rich cross-cultural artistic exchange that reshaped visual language in both Europe and Japan.

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Auction: Fine Japanese Art, 13th Jun, 2025

  

Galerie Zacke is delighted to present Fine Japanese Art, a live auction featuring 600 lots spanning every era of Japan’s rich history.

The first 368 lots are elegantly showcased in our print catalog, curated to highlight Arts of the Samurai, Metalwork, Buddhist Art, Lacquerware, Porcelain, and Paintings & Woodblock Prints. Lots 369 to 600 are in our online catalog, dedicated to okimono, sagemono, and miniature works of art.

All 600 lots will be offered in a single continuous live auction beginning at 10 AM CET on 13 June.

We open with a dynamic selection of bronzes, metalwork, and samurai art. Notable highlights include a rare inlaid iron koro by Myochin Munenori (Lot 48), an impressive Myochin school suit of armor (Lot 108), and a superb tanto by Kunishige (Lot 120).

Our Buddhist Art section features incredible pieces such as a gilt-bronze figure of Jizo Bosatsu (Lot 150) and a large gilt-lacquered wood depiction of Kanzan and Jittoku (Lot 157).

We warmly invite you to explore the full catalog and join us live on 13 June for this exciting event. Learn more.

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2-6 June, 10-12 June 
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