About the Artwork
This rare Japanese art portfolio, titled “現代五十名家書画集” (Gendai Gojū Meika Shogashū) — “Collection of Calligraphy and Paintings by 50 Modern Masters” — was published in Japan during the early Shōwa period (circa 1930s–1940s).
It features works by fifty of Japan’s most respected Nihonga painters and Shodo calligraphers, each contributing one sheet of artwork.
This particular example is a partial surviving set containing 17 of the original 50 sheets, carefully preserved in its original brown wrapper.
Contents of This Partial Set (17 Sheets)
Each of the 17 included works represents the unique aesthetics and mastery of early 20th-century Japanese art.
This partial collection includes:
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Landscape print — a tranquil view of snow-capped mountains with a sailing boat in mist.
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Bijin-ga (beauty print) — elegant portrait of a woman with hair ornament and folding fan.
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Scene of two women in kimono playing a traditional game, rendered in soft Nihonga colors.
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Calligraphy compositions (Shodo) — beautifully brushed haiku and waka verses on patterned and natural paper, with floral embellishments.
Each sheet bears the artist’s signature or red seal (hanko), printed on fine washi paper with subtle embossing or color accents.
Artistic and Historical Context
The Gendai Gojū Meika Shogashū was a landmark project of the early Shōwa art revival, bringing together Japan’s foremost painters and poets to honor the intertwined traditions of painting (画) and calligraphy (書).
It bridges Japan’s classical Edo traditions with its early modern aesthetic, representing the transition between Nihonga refinement and modern artistic expression.
Complete sets are extremely rare, and even partial portfolios like this — containing genuine original sheets — are now highly sought after by collectors, historians, and museums.
Artwork Details
Title: 現代五十名家書画集 (Gendai Gojū Meika Shogashū / Collection of 50 Modern Japanese Masters)
Contents: Partial set – 17 original sheets out of 50
Period: Early Shōwa Era (circa 1930s–1940s)
Medium: Woodblock and lithograph prints, ink brush calligraphy on handmade washi paper
Artists: Various leading Nihonga and Shodo masters
Edition: Original early 20th-century publication
Language: Japanese text in vertical script
Wrapper: Original brown paper cover with printed index
Collector Highlights
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Contains 17 authentic sheets from the original Gendai Gojū Meika Shogashū anthology
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Features both paintings and calligraphy by renowned early Shōwa masters
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Printed on exquisite handmade washi paper using traditional techniques
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Represents Japan’s transition between Edo traditions and modern art
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Highly desirable as a partial surviving portfolio, ideal for collectors and connoisseurs of Japanese fine art
