Painting on silk in mineral pigments, gofun or powdered clam shell, and sumi ink mounted as a hanging scroll, depicting a mallard duck flying upwards from withered grass and lotus reeds around an icy pond. Signed on the lower left by the artist: Wakun, and sealed (Ishibashi Wakun, 1876 – 1928). Late Meiji era, circa 1896 – 1903.

With a new storage box, the lid inlaid with the inscribed and signed panel from the original period storage box titled: Chihen no Kamo or Duck on the Lakeside; and on the reverse of the panel: Ishibashi Wakun Hitsu or Painted by Ishibashi Wakun.

Ishibashi Wakun was born in Shimane Prefecture. He first studied Japanese style painting under Kodama Katei (1832 – 1901). Then in 1903, he left Japan to study Western oil painting at the Royal Academy Art School in London, graduating in 1907 to become a member of the Royal Academy. On his permanent return to Japan in 1918, he became a member of the hanging committee of the Teiten. He first participated in the government-sponsored exhibitions with the 2nd Bunten in 1908, thereafter showing at the 3rd – 6th Bunten in 1909 – 1912, the 10th Bunten in 1916, and the 12th Bunten in 1918. When the exhibitions were reorganized as the Teiten, he continued as an exhibitor at the 1st – 8th Teiten in 1919 – 1927. All of these exhibition paintings were in the category of Yoga or Western-style oil painting and reflect his training in the British academic school.

This example of Nihonga or Japanese style painting by Wakun is a rare, early example of his work. It dates from before his voyage to England in 1903. The large format of the kakemono or hanging scroll format suggests that it might have been made for exhibition or as a major private commission for the young artist.

The mallard cries to its unseen mate as it rises from the marsh into the pale sky. Droplets fall back from its crisply rendered feathers towards the rippling, translucent, green water. Ice crackles in the shallows, pierced by the bent and sere reeds of lotus. Their withered brown pods float half-seen, hidden below water and ice. Balancing the composition, flags of whitened marsh grass fence the far shore, their russet heads bent by the frost.