Tsukioka Settei (1726-1786), signed Shinten’o oju giga
Japan, late 18^th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

Very finely painted with ink, gouache, gold, and watercolors on silk, mounted as a hanging scroll on a finely woven and embroidered silk brocade frame with lacquer handles. Depicting a courtesan wearing voluminous robes decorated with flower motifs, and a gold dragon embroidered black Haori coat, posed alone against a blank background. The red cuffs and hems provide the only bright spots of color. The courtesan depicted is from the high-ranking Oiran class. Her obi (kimono sahs) is tied at the front which is seen in the Kansai region of pleasure quarters.

Signed and inscribed to the lower right with seal: 信天翁應需戯画 “Shinten’o oju giga” (Painted on commission with a light spirit by Shinten’o).
The Seal: 姓源、氏木田、名昌信、字大渓、号雪鼎、初号月岡、自称、信天翁。
“Sei Minamoto, uji Kida, na Masanobu, aza Daikei, go Settei, hatsugo Tsukioka jisho Shinten’o” (The honorary surname Minamoto, family name Kida; alternative names: Masanobu, Daikei, Settei, Tsukioka, personal art name Shinten’o)

SIZE (image) 86.5 x 30.3 cm, 154 x 37.5 cm (including mounting)

Condition: Very good condition with minor traces of wear and age and few small touch-ups.
Provenance: Family collection of either Felix Tikotin (1893-1986) or his son-in-law Louis (Loek) Borensztajn (1935-2021), Netherlands.

Felix Tikotin (1893-1986) was an architect, art collector, dealer, and founder of the first Museum of Japanese Art in the Middle East. He became one of the world’s leading collectors of Japanese art, starting at the age of 18, and continued to collect and work as an art dealer in Berlin in the 1920s. In the 1930s Felix Tikotin fled from the Nazis and hid his collection in the Netherlands. After the war, he decided that his collection should be taken to Israel, where in 1959 and with the help of Abba Hushi, who was the mayor of Haifa, The Tikotin Museum of Japanese Art was established. The Museum's collection comprises more than 8,000 items of art and crafts.

Tsukioka Settei (1726-1786) was a prominent Japanese painter and print artist known for his exquisite depictions of beauties, particularly courtesans and geishas, in grand and elegant robes. He studied under Takada Keiho of the Kyoto Kano school, and his early works reflected the influence of Nishikawa Sukenobu. Settei's artistic talent blossomed, and he designed over fifty illustrated books, many of which depicted the manners and customs of women from historical eras. He gradually developed his own style and began to paint hanging scrolls of contemporary beauties, for which he is most renowned. His works featured bold patterning, intricate details, and the use of high-quality pigments, with red outlines on faces and limbs being a distinctive feature. Settei's paintings and prints also included erotica of refined technical skill. In about An'ei 1 (1772), Settei was elevated to the rank of Hogen, which he often used in his signature. His son, Sessai, and other pupils continued his artistic legacy, emulating his style in their works.

Auction comparison:
Compare with a closely related Kakemono sold at Bonhams, Japanese Works of Art 19 Mar 2009, New York, Lot 305 (sold for 6,710 USD).

A restrained composition is one that is minimalistic, simplified, and carefully arranged to achieve a sense of balance and harmony. It often employs a limited color palette, simple shapes, and a deliberate use of negative space to convey a sense of calmness and order. A restrained composition is typically characterized by a lack of excessive detail, ornamentation, or unnecessary elements, creating a sense of understated elegance and refinement. It can be seen in various forms of visual arts, including painting, photography, and graphic design.