Featured Longest of the Long Shots

This is a major long shot. This Japanese drawing came from the collection of relatively serious art collector, now deceased. It appears to be an ink on paper sketch/drawing, there is no name or year. However, the style looks somewhat familiar, but I can't place it. Does anyone recognize this as a certain artist's style?

 

You have something really nice there. I would look at artists influenced by Japan. It does have a familiar look to it. I tried an image search but it came up with a ton of different artists drawings.

 

Did you take it out of the frame.Often signatures are hidden by the mat.Or there might be info on the back.Very cool piece.

 

looks like there's more under the mat !

 

Well this is interesting - the backing has solid paper glued to the frame. Interestingly, the words "Hokusai Sketch" are written on the back. Now I know to exercise caution about things like that, anyone can write anything. However, this collector had a sketch by the French author Marcel Proust, which was donated to the Proust Society in France. So now the question is - can I get this authenticated or something, and how/who to go to?

 

IF thats by the famous Hokusai ,you've got a real treasure. That backing paper is nothing,take an exacto and cut it out.There has to be more info inside. Now Im fascinated with it! You can always send inquiries to auction houses.They wont tell you anything unless they are interested in it,but thats an answer in itself.

 

Thanks, I am reaching out to a Japanese art appraiser and authenticator. I'll keep you posted and thanks again.

 

will that cost you ?

 

Hokusai was a very unconventional artist in his day, and by Japanese standards this is an unconventional sketch. That, together with the easy hand and the quality, makes me think you're in with a chance. I hope it is a Hokusai.

 

It may, but I don't want to dismiss the chance that it might be authentic, which I admit is unlikely.

 

I took the item to a fine art galley and we opened it. There was no written information, but the sketch is certainly made on a very thin rice-like paper. The gallery thinks the mounting dates from the 1950-1960s. They are confident it is certainly period, unaltered, and that it is worth getting authenticated. So that is my next step after I get it placed into a modern acid-free framing.

 

If you will be taking it to other specialists, you might want to hold off on framing it so they can examine it thoroughly. You could store it flat in an acid-free folder in the meantime. Be sure and save the backing paper with the Hokusai notation, just to preserve the context.

 

Thank you, I shall follow your advice.

 

Have you done a search for Hokusai sketches for comparison on the internet? To my eye, it doesn't appear to be his work. Take a look here and see what you think.

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/57804

Debora

 

The sketch is certainly more simple than others that are posted there, the feet are drawn very similar though. But yes, it would not be surprising if it was another artist, I guess I will find out.

 

It's not only the simplicity; it's the artist's use of line.

Debora

 

Look up Katsushika Hokusai's simpler brush & ink drawings he did for his drawing/art lesson books (he did thousands of studies and book illustrations).The online illustration i clipped said 'no extension on image' so i couldn't paste it here.You'll find more fluid gestural images of his if you search around.

 

I agree with what you are seeing. I cannot find any off the cuff sketches to compare anywhere, which this one seems to be more like, almost a doodle. But still I agree its a long shot at best.

 

There's another page i still couldn't load.These are from a Hokusai book teaching drawing called-'The Big Stroke',you can see some of his single stroke gesture drawings are very simple.Third pic down are examples of some his brush effects (prob not actually done by him).