A rare ink painting of frolicking skeletons under a brief verse by Tsuji Suiran dating from the Meiji period. Ink on paper, the scroll is 41.5 x 170 cm (16-1/2 x 67 inches) and has been completely restored in simple brown silk retaining the original bone rollers. Ready for another 150 years. This may be the first time I have seen a subject of skeletons by a female artist of this era.
Tsuji Suiran was born on the 10th day of the 1st month of Tenpō 12 (1841), the third daughter of Ishikawa Shōsuke of Honchō, Akita City, her given name Toyo. In Ansei 5 (1858), she was adopted by Tsuji Kyūzaemon. She was known to be studying Nanga painting techniques from before 1864 specializing in bird-and-flower subjects. It is said that she always used her left hand when holding objects, reserving her right hand exclusively for painting. She opened a painting school at her home and supported her household through her work. Her work Uguisu in Plum Blossoms (Mei ni Uguisu) received second prize at the Osaka Exposition. In 1892, her work Sankizu (Three Purities) received a first prize award from the Akita Denshingakai. In 1894, Asagao ni Tori no Zu (Morning Glory and Chicken) received second prize from the same society. In 1900, her painting Chrysanthemum won second prize at the Akita Denshingakai exhibition. She passed away on December 20, Taishō 1 (1912) at the age of 70.
