Vintage Japanese Sumi-e Orchid Painting on Shikishi Board | “Orchid in the Empty Valley” by Kuseki с. 1920s | Nanga Literati School Ink Art

A rare original Japanese ink painting (sumi-e) on traditional shikishi board (approx. 24×27 cm) depicting the poetic motif 空谷幽蘭 “Orchid in the Empty Valley” — a symbol of purity and grace in East Asian art.

Signed 空石 摹寫 “Kuseki Moshō” with two red seals, this piece shows the refined brushwork (hitsu 筆) characteristic of the Nanga literati school, blending subtle washes and confident calligraphic lines.
Such minimalistic compositions reflect the influence of Chinese literati painters like Zheng Banqiao and Japanese masters of the late Edo–Meiji transition, continuing into the early Showa era.

Analogous works can be found in major museum collections, including the Tokyo National Museum, the Freer Gallery of Art (Smithsonian, USA), and the British Museum, where similar ink orchids are held in album leaves and handscrolls.

A serene, understated piece for collectors of Japanese ink art, wabi-sabi interiors, or tea room decor.
Ships safely from Latvia (Riga Gallery of Japanese Art “CloudyYokomido”) in protective packaging.


For US buyers: this item enters the United States duty-free.