A classical Nihonga scene of the four seasons featuring Asian Blue tails among red Momiji (maple) leaves, pine boughs and cherry blossoms filling the air over flowing blue water, the shore dotted with flowering plants. This is a very large scroll by Tsutaya Ryukoku depicted with heavy pigment on silk in a patterned cloth border with solid ivory rollers. The scroll is 91 x 240 cm (36 x 94.5 inches) and is in overall excellent condition, dating circa 1925.
Tsutaya Ryukoku (1886-1933) was born in the Tohoku region, aspiring to the life of painter from an early age. He studied under Terasaki Kogyo, a fellow Tohoku native, and went on to distinguish himself in the Bunten and later the Teiten National exhibitions. At the 12th Bunten in 1918 he received a Special Selection award, followed by another Special Selection at the 3rd Teiten in 1921. He subsequently served as a juror for the Teiten, further establishing his position in the art world. Although his career was cut short by his untimely death and surviving works remain relatively few, Tsutaya is recognized as one of the representative painters working in the yamato-e style from the Taisho to early Showa period.
