René Scholten's Collection: Ukiyo-e in the Spotlight
President of Scholten Japanese Art, which opened in New York in September 2000, René Scholten began his journey as a collector of Japanese art with a particular passion for woodblock prints. His collection began to take shape in the 1980s, sparked by the acquisition of a major print by Torii Kotondo titled Make-up. From that initial piece, the collection quickly grew, as did Scholten’s involvement in Japanese art circles, both in the Netherlands and internationally.
This auction offers a rare glimpse into René Scholten’s personal perspective on Japanese art, illustrated in particular by a set of three prints by Suzuki Harunobu, dedicated to the Three Evening Poems, estimated at €60,000–80,000. These three woodblocks depict the Three Evenings, with each composition featuring a rectangular cartouche enclosing verses from section four of the Shin Kokinshū, a classical anthology of waka poetry compiled in 1206.
He went on to acquire numerous works emblematic of this artistic tradition, notably by Utagawa Hiroshige (lots 60 to 66). Among them is Plum Estate, Kameido, the 30th plate from the series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, dated 1857 and estimated at €50,000–60,000.
The Plum Garden at Kameido was renowned for its so-called “Sleeping Dragon” plum trees, named for their low-hanging branches that stretched across the ground and gave rise to new shoots. In this composition, Hiroshige offers the viewer a unique perspective on the garden, which is typically centred on the teahouse seen in the background.
Today, Scholten continues to share his collection with the public by lending works to museums in the Netherlands and the United States, while supporting a wide range of projects and institutions dedicated to Japanese art. This remarkable ensemble stands as a profound testament to the evolution of ukiyo-e, featuring other great names in Japanese printmaking such as Kobayakawa Kiyoshi and Itō Shinsui — each print reflecting the discerning eye of a passionate and exacting collector.
