Two main stalks of bamboo surge upward, bending in a graceful arc toward the upper right. Clumps of leaves articulate the progress of the stalks and enliven the surface of the painting with their various tonalities. Most interesting is the technique, identified by the artist as finger painting. A brush was clearly used for the main stalks while the leaves, sharp and staccato, suggest the use of sharpened fingernails to apply the ink as one would do with the nib of a quill pen.
Luo Qing (1821-1895 or later) called Xuegu, “Snow Valley,” was born in Panyu, Guangdong province. During the mid-nineteenth century all artists would have been aware of Japan, for many types of ceramics and other art-goods were being exported to that lively market from Guangdong and other ports further north. It is not too be wondered, then, that Luo Qing decided to travel there, and in 1870 he went, staying until 1876. He was listed as a foreign resident by the Tokyo government and as a teacher of painting and calligraphy. Employed by the famous gardener Morita Rokusaburo in Asakusa, he was included in a print by Kawanabe Kyosai, published in September of 1875. In the detail included here, Luo Qing appears playing a lute with a dancing dog in Morita’s house.1
The present painting is not dated by inscription but it could be argued, given its Japanese provenance, that it was produced between 1870 and 1876, his period of residence in that country. But other artists who worked in Japan are known to have continued producing for that market after returning home,, so it could in fact be later. It is certainly a fine example of his mastery of this particular technique.
1. Tsuruta Takeyoshi, “Ra Sekkoku and Ko Tetsubai,” Journal of Art Studies, 324, 1983.
Painting details:
Artis’s inscription:
雪谷山人指頭作 「羅清雪谷」
Xuegu shanren painted with fingertips [Luo Qing Xuegu]
Box:
Outer box lid inscription:
清人羅雪谷筆風竹之図 指頭画
Luo Xuegu of the Qing painted the Bamboo in Wind with his fingers.
Inner box lid
Inner box lid inscription:
羅雪谷弘化四年来朝遊歴長崎江戸各地嘉永二年帰国？美墨竹
Luo Xuegu came to Japan in the fourth year of the Kōka period (1847), traveled around from Nagasaki to Edo, and went home in the second year of the Kaei period (1849). His paintings of bamboo in ink are beautiful.
Outer box side label:
羅清 指頭画 風竹
Ra Sei (Luo Qing) Finger painting of Bamboo in Wind.