Rare Pair of Japanese Paintings on Silk - Frog Battle. Circa 1890.

Rare Pair of Japanese paintings on silk, Meiji period, depicting a Frog Battle on a lotus pond, using bulrush spears. Circa 1890.

Very intricate detailing and spirited portrayal of frogs in battle. The frogs, and bulrush spears finely detailed, and rendered 'collage' to the extremely fine silk painting. The paintings similarly finely detailed with pond foliage and lotus leaves, giving an overall three-dimensional effect.

This pair of collage paintings is extremely rare, and would have formed a single larger silk painting. In overall very good condition, with some minor tears. Strong original colours. Unsigned*.

*The frog characteristics (mouth features and legs), bulrush details and colours reminiscent of the painted pictures and whimsical world represented by Kawanabe Kyosai (1831 - 1889), who often used 'comical' frogs in depicting the lives of ordinary people. (Reference: A Japanese Menagerie - Animal Pictures by Kawanabe Kyosai see phote: Not included in sale). The style of which very much continued by Ohara Kosan (1874 -1945).