Dim.: 52,5 x 67 cm (the frame)
Dim.: 33 x 48 cm (the work)

Provenance:
- Van Herck Auctions, Antwerp, Belgium, November 1978.
- Galerie Jacques Vandewalle, Antwerp/France, acquired from the above.
- A private Belgian collection, acquired from the above in December 1986.

Ref.: 
- Bubb Kuyper: Auctioneers of Books, Fine Arts & Manuscripts, 19 May 2022, lot 4571, for a near-identical work. (sold EUR 19.000,00) (link)
- Rob Michiels Auctions, 28 April 2018, lot 1144, for a related work by the artist. (sold EUR 85.800,00) (link)

Kawahara Keiga was a Japanese painter active in Nagasaki during the late Edo period. Working closely with Dutch merchants and visitors at Dejima, he produced detailed paintings combining Japanese technique with Western perspective, documenting Japanese life, landscapes and maritime subjects for an international audience.

Accompanied by an old backing board bearing late 19th-century newspaper clippings, together with a handwritten note:
'Les navires La Fortitude et L’Océan ont appartenu à Monsieur Charles Lauwers, père de feu mon mari.'
English translation: 'The ships Fortitude and Océan belonged to Monsieur Charles Lauwers, father of my late husband.'
This is more than likely written by Mélanie-Jeannette Lanszweert (Ostend, 1802-?), daughter-in-law to Charles Francois Lauwers (Torhout, 1765-?), who married his son, Richard Marie Lauwers (Bruges, 1805 - Torhout, 1842) on 24 October 1832. Charles Lauwers was a prominent figure in Bruges, Ostend and Torhout. Records show that in 1810, he was a member of the commission responsible for organising Napoléon’s welcome to Ostend and overseeing arrangements for the official reception. After his career in maritime trade, he served as mayor of Torhout from 1824 until 1830. 

Sources: Jacques van Wijnendaele, 'De familie Lanszweert en de stad Oostende', 2008. Stichting Maritiem-Historische Databank. J.N. Pasquini, 'Histoire de la Ville d'Ostende', 1842. Echo d'Ostende 13/06/1895. Napoleon I sur le littoral beige. Echo d'Ostende 05/09/1934. Geneanet. La visite de Napoleon et de Marie-Louise à Ostende. 

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