Author: [PAINTING ON LEATHER - JAPANESE - DESHIMA].
Title: [A bird’s-eye view of the Dutch trading post on Deshima, Japan with in the background a Dutch three-master anchored in Nagasaki Bay].[Japan, before 1800]. Drawing size ca. 34 x 39.5 cm; frame size ca. 46 x 51 cm. (Oil?) painting on leather. In a passepartout and framed.
Description: Late 18th-century(?) painting on leather depicting everyday life on the island of Deshima in Japan, created by an anonymous artist who seems to be of Japanese origin, possibly originating from the Nagasaki school of painting: the faces of most human figures show remarkable Japanese features despite their reddish-brown hair and Dutch clothing.Judging by a woodcut map of Deshima (published in 1780 by Toshimaya Bunjiemon) the south-eastern part of the island is shown in the present illustration. On the left the warehouse master’s residence next to a tall flagpole with the Dutch flag at top; in the centre the important watergate (through which cargo was brought in via ship) with four Dutch merchants (one seen from behind) and two Javanese servants in front of the gate; on the right the warehouse "De Lelie" (The Lily). In the background, lying in the bay of Nagasaki, a Dutch three-master has been depicted with fourteen hoisted Dutch flags and several sailors on deck and in the rigging. This ship closely resembles a transom return ship (in Dutch: "spiegelretourschip") which was used by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) during its whole existence.Based on the depicted style of clothing of the Dutch merchants, we assume that this painting could have been made during the second half of the 18th century.The artificial island of Deshima was a small fan-shaped island used as trading post, initially by the Portuguese until 1639 and subsequently by the Dutch from 1641 until 1858. During the Tokugawa Shogunate (the military government of Japan in the Edo period of 1603-1868) foreigners were not allowed to enter the Japanese territory and the island of Deshima was the only place where initially only the Portuguese and later only the Dutch were admitted.With some flaking of the paint off the leather, slightly affecting the image but mainly affecting the upper outer corners. Otherwise in good condition.l H. Paul, Nederlanders in Japan 1600-1854. De VOC op Desjima, pp. 106-107.

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