Dimensions: Height 40 cm Wide 34 cm (only Painting)
Weight: 5.3 Kilograms with frame

Finely executed in mineral pigments and ink on silk, the painting depicts two elegantly attired women in a natural setting. One holds a lacquer box, her robe decorated with geometric motifs, while the other, standing beside a gnarled tree, carries a bronze vessel and wears a long flowing robe adorned with delicate embellishments. Their hairstyles and costumes evoke the refined courtly taste of the late Edo period.

The background is painted in warm golden tones, enhancing the graceful presence of the two figures and lending the scene an ethereal quality.

Mounted in a later wood frame.

Notes:
Japanese silk paintings from the late Edo period often drew inspiration from Chinese figure painting traditions while retaining a distinctly Japanese sensitivity for textile pattern, subtle coloration, and seasonal context. The depiction of elegant women in serene outdoor settings, often with references to seasonal flowers, reflects the enduring popularity of bijin-ga (pictures of beauties) in both painting and print media of the time.

Auction Comparisons:
– Compare with a painting of courtly ladies on silk, Edo period, sold at Christie’s, New York, Japanese and Korean Art, where similar restrained palette and delicate figural style are evident.
– See also Bonhams, London, for comparable Edo silk figure paintings featuring women in natural settings.