[on center scroll]

Text

Recorded at viewing the Kegon Waterfall, in early… [illegible].

Signature

Kōsai Koji Ishikawa Ten

Seals

Shiba Sanjin; Sekikeiei in; Kunka

[on right scroll]

After drizzling for scores of days, even the rain gets old. / I envision the flowers in disarray by the river far away. / To soothe my mind, in a small pavilion, I leisurely pick up a brush / and paint some cut branches in the manner of Nanden [Un Juhei (Ch. Yun Shouping, 1633–1690)].

Signature

Painted by Kōsai Koji Sekiei in the spring of 1902

Seals

Shiba Sanjin; Sekikeiei in; Kunka

[on left scroll]

Text

The skill of Master Un Juhei [Ch. Yun Shouping] has no precedent; / who can emulate his painting of gorgeous flowers? // Self-mocking as the ugly one from Wuyan [modern Shandong] Province, she still expects appreciation from the King of Sai [Ch. Qi]. // In my spare time after lecturing and reading, I paint landscapes and bamboo with rocks for fun. When it comes to flowers and birds with patterned plumage, my awkwardness becomes even worse. A chance reading of ‘Shōzan gafu’ [Ch. Xiaoshan huapu] by Sū Ikkei [Ch. Zou Yigui, 1686–1772] made me eager to try my hand. I rushed to gather some rosy pigments and painted a variety of flowers and cut branches. It is deplorable that my brush has turned rusty and the painting appears extremely crude. Compared with professional dyers and paint-workers, however, I may boast certain merits.

Signature

In the late spring of 1902, Shibayama Gaishi Sekiei [1833–?] at the age of seventy

Seals

Shiba Sanjin; Sekiei Kunka; Kōsai