Kikuchi Hobun enclosed in the original signed wooden box which identifies the birds as Mejiro, or Japanese White Eye. Pigment on silk in a fine patterned silk border with solid ivory rollers. The rollers will be changed for export. The scroll is 43.5 x 186 cm (17 x 73-1/2 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Kikuchi Hobun (1862-1918) was born into a family of Hyogu-shi (professional mounters of paintings) in Osaka during the waning years of the Tokugawa government. He was adopted into the Kikuchi family and moved to Kyoto where he studied under Kano Hoen, and later with the Shijo master Kōno Bairei along with Takeuchi Seiho, Taniguchi Kokyo and Tsuji Kako. He frequently exhibited at and was much lauded with the Bunten/Teiten National Exhibitions. He taught at the Kyoto Municipal School of Fine Arts and Crafts where his influence on following generations was much felt. Works by the artist are held in the V&A, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, National Museums of Modern Art, Tokyo and Kyoto and British Museum among others. For more see Modern Masters of Kyoto (Paul Berry and Michiyo Morioka)
