Attributed to Yamaoka Tesshu (1836-1888)-山岡 鉄舟, Japan, Meiji periodCalligraphy signed Fujiwara Takayuki with three seals of the artist, Fujiwara Takayuki seal-藤原高歩, Tesshû seal-鉄舟. At the top right, a seal indicating the subject of the calligraphy : Setusjô Kasô - 雪上加霜 which could be read word for word "frost on the snow", a Chinese expression which could also be interpreted as: "adding insult to injury" or "to make matters worse". India ink on paper mounted in kakemono. A repair on the paper. 132 x 63 cmProvenance : Collection Michel Tapié. By descent. Yamaoka was an influential samurai of the Meiji period, he was the creator of the Ittô Shôden Mutô-ryû school of fencing and was very much influenced by Zen Buddhism, for which he made a reputation as a calligrapher.