Ader
208
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Attributed to Hasegawa Settei (長谷川 雪堤, 1813–1882), ink and w…
See original version (French)
208
-
Attributed to Hasegawa Settei (長谷川 雪堤, 1813–1882), ink and w…
See original version (French)
Estimate €800 - €1,000
Voluntary lot
Description
Attributed to Hasegawa Settei (長谷川 雪堤, 1813–1882), ink and wash sketch on paper, Japan, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Vertical in format, depicting a tigress crossing a river, carrying one of her cubs in her mouth, whilst the rocky landscape and the river’s currents are rendered with broad strokes of diluted ink. Comprising four thin sheets of washi paper, this is likely a preparatory work for a painting or a folding screen. The painting bears two red seals at the bottom: one 長谷川 – Hasegawa, the other 雪堤 – Settei, corresponding to the artist’s name, Hasegawa Settei.
60 x 56 cm
Vertical and horizontal creases, minor wear and soiling, a few losses and alterations to the paint.
The composition depicts the famous theme of ‘tora no ko watashi’ – 虎の子渡し – ‘the tiger cubs crossing the river’. According to this story, a tigress with three cubs must cross a river, but one of them is a hyō (彪), a particularly aggressive animal likely to devour the other two; as she can only carry one cub at a time, she must make several crossings, alternating between the cubs, in order to get them all to safety.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Lot description modified on 10/20/2026 at 9:47 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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