painted tromp-l’oeil mounting | Tsurusawa Tansen

From the property of Hirohashi Koremitsu’s daughter. A postumous gift to Baisen-in temple. But the most spectacular feature of this wonderful scroll is its painted tromp-l’oeil mounting. It represents the elaborate frame of a poem composed by Konoe Motohiro (1648-1722) brushed by Tsurusawa Tansen.

Young women on Hatsuse river making threads.
Spring winds from the mountains
blow away cherry blossom.
Respectfully written by Tanzan (i.e. Tsurusawa Tansen)

Konoe Motohiro was a painter, poet, and from 1690 to 1703 he was the most powerful courtier when he was Emperor Higashiyama’s regent (Kampaku).

The inscription on the box lid reads: Poem by Kone Oenman Kanpaku Motohiro. The inscription on the inside of the box lid reveals that this scroll was a – probably postumous – gift to Baisen-in temple: Baisen-in. From the property of Hirohashi Koremitsu’s (1745-1823) daughter. Received June 8th 1861.

Tsurusawa Tansen (1755-1816)