A Fine and Rare Scroll Painting Depicting the European Hendrik Doeff

Epoque: 1800-1850

Medium: Paper, polychrome, Silk, Watercolour

Dimension: 190 x 66 cm (74³/₄ x 26⁰/₁ inches)

Provenance: Ex Private collection

Literature: The scroll is one of a few ‘after’ a painted scroll by Shiba Kókan (1747 - 1818) of ‘Opperhoofd’ Hendrik Doeff (1764 - 1837), the Dutch commissioner in the ‘Dejima’ trading post of Nagasaki, Japan, during the early part of the 19th century. Born in Amsterdam, as a young man he sailed to Japan as a scribe working for the Dutch East India Company. He raised to a position of Chief in 1803, where he remained until 1817. After Britain captured the Dutch East Indies in 1811, Dejima became the only place in the world flying the Dutch flag. The Netherlands eventually being restored in 1814, with Doeff later decorated for his loyalty and courage. 
     Doeff was also credited with writing the Dutch-Japanese dictionary, and also a memoir of his experiences and life in Japan, titled ‘Recollections of Japan’, and he was also credited with writing the first ‘Haiku’ by a Westerner: 

                                                   イナヅマ　ノ                               
                                             カヒナ ヲ　カラン
                                                    クサ マクラ

     ‘lend me your arms,  fast as thunderbolts,  for a pillow on my journey’ 

A portrait of Hendrik Doeff, signed by Shiba Kókan is in the collection of the Rijksmuseum voor Volkenkunde in Leiden (inv. 2821 - 1). He is shown standing in the same stance, holding his ‘red lacquer’ cane, his man servant a few steps behind and the dog seated on all four legs, with one leg scraping behind her ear.