A large panting of an ascending snake painted by Shimizu Rokusho in the year of the snake enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Imagery such as this show a longing for progress in the year of the snake; may the snake stretch to heaven. Ink on paper dated Taisho 6 1917 by Shimizu Rokusho Patterned blue silk border . It is 64 x 180 cm (25 x 71 inches). There is toning to the paper typical of the 112 years since it was painted.
Shimizu Rokusho (1863-1919) was born with the given name Tatsuo. Later changed to Shōzō, he pursued the path of painting and was adopted by his uncle Masayasu Shōsō in Kyoto. He studied under Kōno Bairei of the Shijō school, where his talent was such that he rivaled his fellow disciple Takeuchi Seiho for top honors. Yet, due to unforeseen circumstances, he was expelled from the school. From around 1897 (Meiji 30), he based himself in Takayama, Gifu, where he worked for many years and left behind a significant body of paintings in the Hida region. He passed away in Takayama at the age of fifty-seven.
