A large and very early landscape strictly following traditional Nanga tenets by Shirakura Niho signed with his abbreviated given name Kinro dated 1919 and enclosed in the original wooden box signed with his artist name Niho. This work dates from the time after a popular sojourn in oil painting and shortly after his return to Japanese style painting the year he received the name Niho from his teacher Hattori Goro. The teachers influence is clearly evident in the young artists brushwork and composition. Pigment on silk in the original silk border with large turned wood rollers the scroll measures 72 x 207.5 cm (28 x 81-1/2 inches). There is toning and light age stains throughout.
Shirakura Kinichiro (Niho or Jiho, Kanyu, 1896-1974) was born in Niigata, and initially was inducted into Nanga under Hattori Goro. Moving to Tokyo he began studies of Western oil painting following Ishii Hakutei. However, that was unfulfilling, and he soon moved to Kyoto, returning to the Nanga style under Tanabe Chikuson (also Tajika/Tachika Chikuson, 1864-1922). Following the death of Chikuson, he moved to Tokyo where he took up residence in the studio of Komura Suiun. He was consistently displayed at both the Teiten-Nitten National Exhibitions as well as the Nihon Nanga –In Ten. Like other individualistic artists of his generation, he was known for his very unique and easily discernible style and enjoyed immense popularity. He later changed his name to Kanyu. He was recognized in an English book published in 1958 as one of the most important artists to visit when in Japan.
