Asian Works of Art

Sweet Osmanthus
ink and color on paper, hanging scroll
inscribed with an artist's seal, Baishi weng. Together with a blue cloth bag, dated 1940, dedicated to Mr. Morita Genjiro (Consul of Japan stationed in Northeast China in the early-mid 20th Century).
齊白石
（晚清-民國，1863-1957）
桂花圖
紙本設色，立軸
款識：如完細看乃翁。
鈐印：白石翁
簽條：花卉“桂花”白石，白八十三。柏年森田元次郎▯▯。
附藍布袋，款識：齊白石桂花，▯▯▯▯，白八十三。
注：
此係1940年齊白石八十三歲時繪贈日本駐吉林縂領事森田寬藏之作。森田寬藏本名森田元次郎，民國初年先後擔任日本駐鐵嶺、長春等地領事。二十年代與齊白石相識，齊為其取字“柏年”，並曾作畫相贈，現存齊白石應森田之請的畫作有：
-京都國立博物館藏《鶴圖》，齊白石六十五歲作。
-中國嘉德2011年11月13日“食筍齋藏中國近現代書畫”專場1116號《清供图》（成交價￥460萬）。
-北京保利2021年6月5日“中國書畫夜場”1034號《森森壽柏》（成交價￥310.5萬）。

Note:
This work was painted and gifted by Qi Baishi in 1940, age 83, to Mr. Morita Kanzo (given name Morita Genjiro), the Japanese Consul General stationed in Jilin, China. In the early years of the Republic of China, he served as a consul for Japan in various locations in Northeast China, such as Tieling and Changchun. He became acquainted with Qi Baishi in the 1920s. Qi gave him the courtesy name 'Bainian' and presented him with paintings. Currently, paintings created by Qi Baishi at Morita's request include:
-Crane, held by the Kyoto National Museum, was painted when Qi Baishi was 65 years old.
-China Guardian Auction, 'Shixunzai Collection of Modern Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy', November 13, 2011, lot 1116, price realized ¥4.6 million.
-Beijing Poly Auction, 'Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Evening Sale', June 5, 2021, lot 1034, price realized ¥3.105 million.