An original Meiji-period Japanese painting album by Keinen, featuring refined sumi ink studies of plants and natural forms, officially approved by the Japanese Ministry of Education in 1906.
This authentic Japanese art book is titled 「景年習画帖 第二（Keinen Shūgachō, Volume 2）」, a painting practice album created for formal art education during the Meiji period.
Printed in Meiji 39 (1906), the book is clearly marked 「文部省検定済」, confirming official approval by the Japanese Ministry of Education. Such approval indicates the book was intended for use in art schools and academic instruction, not for commercial decoration alone.
The album contains a series of minimalist sumi ink illustrations focused on botanical subjects and natural motifs, including:
- Persimmons
- Grapes
- Flowers and blossoms
- Leaves, stems, and vines
Each composition emphasizes brush control, balance, negative space, and form, making this volume especially appealing to sumi-e and nihonga practitioners. Several plates bear red artist seals, reinforcing its authenticity and artistic value.
Bound in original washi paper covers with traditional Japanese binding, this volume survives in honest, age-consistent condition and remains a strong example of early modern Japanese art pedagogy.
This is not a modern reproduction, but a genuine Meiji-era educational art book.
DETAILS
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Title (Japanese): 景年習画帖 第二
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Title (Romanized): Keinen Shūgachō, Volume 2
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Artist: 景年 (Keinen)
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Genre: Japanese painting manual / art study album
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Language: Japanese
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Illustration Style: Sumi ink (monochrome)
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Subjects: Botanical studies, plants, fruit, flowers
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Approval: 文部省検定済 (Ministry of Education Approved)
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Date: 明治三十九年五月一日 (May 1, 1906)
The Keinen Shūgachō series represents a key moment in Meiji-era art education, blending traditional Japanese painting methods with standardized academic teaching.
Volumes with documented Ministry of Education approval are especially sought after by:
- Japanese art collectors
- Museums and archives
- Sumi-e and nihonga artists
- Collectors of Meiji educational material
Complete volumes are increasingly difficult to find due to heavy historical use in classrooms.
