Flowering Plants Through the Seasons

A set of four hanging scrolls, freely painted, depicting flowering plants through the seasons. Each has its title written on the box it comes in; spring shows a plum and is entitled, Noko Gyokkotsu, summer shows a palm tree entitled ‘Ugo Ryokusui’, autumn shows a pomegranate tree and is entitled ‘Sekiryu Shumi’ while winter depicts a nandina tree and is given the title, ‘Koho Nanten’. Each of the paintings has powerful brushstrokes and is characterized by the use of bright colors while the subject is so real that it seems about to burst out from the confines of the picture. It is thought that these paintings were produced sometime in the nineteen-twenties when Seiun was working in China.
Born in Oda City in Shimane Prefecture, Seiun moved to Nara in 1902 in order to study to become a sculptor. However, after suffering a disease of his left eye, he began to study Japanese-style painting instead. He moved to Kyoto where he studied Nanga (Southern school of Chinese painting) under YOSHITSUGU Haizan. In 1914 he moved to Beijing in China where he studied under QI Baishi and WU Changshi. In 1927 he moved to Shanghai where in 1930 he founded the Nanga-in school. At around this time he met the journalist and historian TOKUTOMI Soho (1863-1957), who offered him support. After the World war Ⅱ, he worked at the house of his patron, TORII Shinjiro. He returned to Oda City, the place of his birth, in 1962 but died one year later.