Japanese school. Meiji period, ca.1880.

Japanese school. Meiji period, ca.1880.
Pair of paintings on silk.
With signatures and inscriptions.
One is missing the glass.
Moisture stains. Some chipping in the frames.
Measurements: 35 x 28 cm; 51 x 41 cm (frame).

These Japanese paintings from the Meiji period belong to a time of great cultural and artistic transformation in Japan, when the country, after centuries of isolation under the Tokugawa shogunate, opened up to the world and began a process of modernization under Emperor Meiji (1868-1912).

During this period, the arts reflected the tension between tradition and Western influence. Although new styles emerged that incorporated European techniques and perspectives, a strong current of traditional Japanese painting (nihonga), executed on silk or paper, with mineral pigments and ink, and with genre or courtly subjects, was also maintained.

The two works in tender are paintings on silk, which already indicates a refined and meticulous work, typical of the cabinet or decorative painting of the late nineteenth century. Both depict scenes of female interiors, chambers with canopied beds, treated with a linear drawing and a vivid polychrome in the clothes, contrasting with the neutral or light brown backgrounds.

In the first painting, three women are standing: an old woman and two young ladies, all dressed in richly decorated kimonos and traditional hairstyles. The scene seems to be set in a private room, possibly of an aristocratic house or of a courtesan, given the refinement of the surroundings. In the second painting, again three female figures are situated in a similar room; this time, a young woman lies in bed while two women attend to her. The composition conveys intimacy and domestic care, possibly a scene of illness, rest or ceremonial preparation.

The style is linear and descriptive, typical of the transition to early nihonga, where attention to detail in the textiles and the serenity of the figures are essential. The bright colors of the kimonos contrast with the dark furnishings and neutral backgrounds, reinforcing the prominence of the female figures. The understated facial features and restrained elegance are a legacy of Edo art, but the interest in domestic interiors and the more intimate depiction of the female world reflect modern sensibilities of the Meiji period, influenced by the rise of the urban bourgeoisie and a growing interest in everyday life.