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Past Information

Kashima-Arts Past Information

July 01, 2009

Creator : Kusunoki Keishu
Title of the painting : "The Falls" - Hanging scroll
　 Few people know about, the Nanka style painter, Kusunoki Keishu who purely loved painting just solitarily and never wanted fame and wealth in his whole life. The one who devoted himself to Tomioka Tessai and Uragami Gyokudo left tans of Sansui paintings. Most of his art works were painted with luxuriant foliage, craggy mountains, and streams in between them. The lines he drew over and over make a unique distortion that represents his originality. Although, this falls painting is very crisp and graceful. It is rare work that comes to the fore of his pureness, clearness, and powerfulness. The mighty straight lines without any perplexity brace us up. This scroll would be cool you down a shimmering hot summer day by the water sound of the basin of a waterfall, and also you may feel the fresh splash from there.

May 13, 2009

Creator : Mori Sosen
Title of the painting : "Monkey " - Hanging scroll
　 This work, which was painted by Mor Sosen the painter in the Edo period is well expressed monkeys' fur as if we can feel the touch of the fur. He changed his penname as狙仙 around his age of sixties, therefore he painted these monkeys before sixties. Sosen left many paintings of deer, tigers, and cats. Above all, his monkey was the most famous subject known for "Sosen's monkey". There is an anecdote; when a monkey saw Sosen's monkey at Ema-do in Itukushima, the monkey jumped on the Sosen's monkey. Ito Jakuchu was famous for fowls, and he left many fowls in his yard for the observation of his paintings. Also Sosen was handed down that he left monkeys and wild boars in his yard as same as Jakuchu did and he went to mountains to sketch out wild animals. In a book called "Towazukatari" published in 1917, describes about Sosen that he looked like a monkey when he watched his monkeys in his yard with kneeling down on a stool. When we think of the painter, who went after monkeys painted monkeys and also was influenced by monkeys, this work would have the feeling as his portrait.

December 8, 2008

Creator : Kawabata Yasunari
Title of the painting : "poem " - Frame
　 Kawabata Yasunari who have caught a subject with his keen sensibility and made his own world of beauty wrote this calligraphy. He inherited originality and richness of Japanese culture, and he created masterpieces, which was aware of Japanese beauty. In forcible and courteous style in this calligraphy makes us feel that as if the author’s characteristic is alive.

December 1, 2008

Creator : Araki Jippo
Title of the painting : "Peacock" - Folding Screens
　 Araki Jippo learned under Araki Kanpo who was a great painter of the bird-and-flower genre, and he improved the bird-and-flower genre by taking the subject as it was based on the study of anatomical observation, not taking the subject as two-dimensional way. It is well expressed his skilful ability in this piece as well. The gallant peacock and elegant peonies in this picture make mysterious feeling, and it leads you to a space as if you are the witness of a world that would be happening something.

November 11, 2008

Creator : Suzuki kiitsu
Title of the painting : "Cranes beside bamboo" - Hanging scroll
　 He was fond of paintings from his childhood, he became one of apprentices of Sakai Hoitsu. As he has learned various styles of art works, he absorbed the Maruyama-Shijo style, then he had the enough skill to paint for Hoitsu. He also made effort for reconstruction of Rinpa in Edo. The contrast between the straight line of bamboos and lithe-looking bodies of two cranes are finely drawn by using thick and light ink in this piece. Also the sensitive hue color of the canes and the color gradation on the bamboos express Kiitsu's superior color sense.

July 20, 2008

Creator : Hashimoto Gaho
Title of the painting : "Akikusa" - Hanging scroll
　 Gaho is renowned as a great painter in Meiji. Though he has been groping for a new course of Japanese painting, he was based on the painting way of Kano style and he created a large number of high quality technique pieces. He drew autumn flowers modestly. And daring empty white space has the feeling of autum calmness in. There is his certain technique even in this silence piece.
Creator : Kawasaki Shoko
Title of the painting : "Mizuniasobu" - Frame
　 At the beginning, Shoko's style was based on the Japanese traditional genre painting(yamato-e), then he moved to a warm-hearted style. In his last years, he preferred to paint simple subjects like Nature and animals. There are two waterfowls taking their wings rest in this piece. Waterweeds grow in places, the light melting with the blue on the water surface and the green of the waterweed create a key of light soft color impression. Two waterfowls are painted charmingly with coking their head to one side and grazing each other. The piece has full of delicate nuance.
Creator : Odake Chikuha
Title of the painting : "Kyokujitsu : Sokainozu" - Hanging scroll
　 This is like a cutting piece of the moment in the orange sunrise from the deep-blue ocean. It is very delightful and sublime to see that the two little cranes flying in the light with the vague horizon. The painter was a man who lived in three different Japanese eras, Meji, Taisho, and Showa, named Odake Chikuha. As reflecting the tumultuous era, he had lots of different styles though his life. Contradistinction to the style in his last years like anticipate a new era of modern art, this piece reminds us to the beginning of Impressionism with bright lights.
Creator : Tachihara Kyosho → paintng, Asakawa Zenan → legend
Title of the painting : "Takegasan" - Hanging scroll
　 The piece has lights and shadow with using chiaroscuro and patchiness skillfully of the Indian Ink. The freshness and juciness are in the leaves of banboo and the long straight bamboo itself. Kyosho mainly drew flowers and birds with a sense of new and elevated paintings. He is also known as seal-engraving. Asakawa Zenan who wrote a caption on this painting is well known as Confusian.

June 20, 2008

Creator : Koizumi Danzan
Title of the painting : "Ayuzu" - Hanging scroll
　 Tanzan has kept painting many kinds of Japanese trout with realistic technique. Especially his drawings of the trout and the cats are true to nature. We can see the life power strength of the trout with jumping out from the water surface.

June 1, 2008

Creator : Nakamura Gakuryo
Title of the painting : "Sobi" - Hanging scroll
　 The scroll attracts the verdant plants and the detail colors of a dragonfly where stays at the tip on the leaf. He took in the Western painting technique as his realistic expression, and we could see the thoughts of Gakuryo which he has been trying to new expressions by using the traditional Japanese painting technique.

January 9, 2008

Creator : Uragami Gyokudo
Title of the painting : "KOZAN FUGETU" - Hanging scroll
　 Title; Kozan Fugetu "Deserted mountain and nature's beauty" - hanging scroll. Gyokudo continued drawing in his mind as he traveled in various Prefectures on foot. The style of Kozan Fugetu leads us to guess that this piece was most likely produced while Gyokudo was in his 60's. Gyokudo drew trees and tree branches with uninhibited thirsty strokes utilizing red clay as an accent. The deep sensitivity in Gyokudo's various talents are evident in not only his paintings but also in his readings of Chinese poetry and playing of the Chinese zither, the guqin. It is also interesting to note that this piece was printed on a silk cloth as this material was rarely used in Gyokudo's other pieces.
Creator : Nakamura Gakuryo → painting, Onoe Saishu→ legend
Title of the painting : "CHIKUJAKU ZU" - Hanging scroll
which means "bamboo and sparrows" in english
　 Nakamura Gakuryo succeeded in creating a new artform by blending modern western painting technique with a traditional technique. Gakuryo produced a wide variety of art that included bird and flower paintings, landscape and Buddhist paintings. Each piece showed Gakuryo's delicate touch and thoughtful observations.
Onoe Saishu skillfully used the "Kana" writing system within his art. Later in life, his style shifted toward a principle of reproducing nature's realism. Saishu wrote a poetry column for the magazine Shinsei (“New Voices”). He also founded the Shazenzo Sha (“Plaintain Society”) in 1905 that stressed clarity, simplicity, and capturing ordinary experiences in poetry.

January 8, 2008

Creator : Yasuda Yukihiko
Title of the painting : "TSUBAKI UGUISU" - Hanging scroll
which means "camellia and bush warbler" in english
　 On the right side of the hanging scroll, a camellia branch is dramatically drawn. In the center of the scroll a deep red camellia is in bloom. This bloom is gracefully and charmingly drawn. This scroll is refined and leaves the viewer feeling sonorous. The flower is clear cut and lacquered with Chinese red to create mass. A warbler is delicately drawn with a touch that is naturally vivid.

December 26, 2008

Creator : Ishii Hakutei → painting, Yosano Akiko →legend
Title : Akizono Shokei (Autumn Garden Landscape) - Hanging scroll
　 This is a legendary hanging scroll with autumn colors.

December 22, 2008

Creator：Okumura Togyu
Title of the work："Kotobuki" - Frame
which means "rejoicing / long life / felicitation" in english
　 Dogyo deep inspiration for this piece is evident in the creation of this single Japanese Chinese character.

December 13, 2008

Creator：Mizukami Tsutomu
Title："Uta" - Frame
which means "poetry：hanging scroll mounting" in english
　 Tsutomu admired his literature teacher Uno Koji and wrote this piece while fighting against a variety of maladies. The poem is a reflection of this life as he struggled through business difficulties and multiple failed marriages, yet he never stopped writing. This poem uses grass as a symbol for the artist.

December 12, 2008

Creator：Arai Hakuseki
Subject："Toushi-Kou" - Hanging scroll
which means "Draft of Chinese poetry" in hanging scroll．
　 Hakuseki was born in a shelter during the Edo battles. Hakuseki was born with an unusual talent for the arts and science. He was able at the age of three (3) to transcribe in whole test from Confucianism from his Fathers reading. Hakuseki actively wrote until he died, and wrote many pieces telling the truth about his family’s history, involvement with the Provincial Feudal Lords, and other ancient history.

November 5, 2007

Creator : Tanizaki Junichiro
Title of the works : Tokyo no "of Tokyo"(poetry in hanging scroll) - Hanging scroll
Junichio was a novelist born in Tokyo. He graduated from Daiichi High School and later attended Tokyo University. Junichiro is most well known in the literary world after being discovered by Nagai Kafu. He moved to Kansai after the Great Tokyo earthquake and wrote some of the greatest Japanese novels. His piece Sasameyuki "a light fall of sno" is regarded as a modern equivalent to Genji Monogatari. Junichiro was presented an Order of Culture Merit. He died in 1965 at the age of 79.

October 1, 2007

Creator：Maruyama Okyo
Title of the works : "Kyokukaku-Zu" - Hanging scroll
This work was done in June of 1779 which around this time many outstanding works and fine piece of worker were produced in succession．
Creator：Fugai Ekun
Title of the works : "Sigetu Hotei-Zu" - Hanging scroll
This work show Hotei pointing on faraway moon with a peaceful expression．

September 1, 2007

Creator：Matsubayasi Keigetu
Title of the painting : "Koyo Kokin" - Hanging scroll
Keigetsu subtle brush technique beautifully reproduces the vibrant and complex colors of crimson foliage.

August 28, 2007

Creator : Hanaoka Seishu
Title of the painting : "Muchu Nobuyuki - Gakukei" - Hanging scroll
Seishu was not only an elite physician but also a cultured man who relished Chinese poetry and calligraphy.

May 16, 2007

Creator：Fugai Ekun
Title : "Ise-Jingu, Iwasimizu Hachimangu, Kamo Jinga, and Kasuga Jinja". - Hanging scroll
Fugai Ekun was an original conception monk of early Edo era．

May 1, 2007

Creator：Ike Taiga → paintng, Rikunyo Jishu → legend
Title of the painting/poetry："ransekizu" - Hanging scroll
This is a masterpiece created by Taiga’s powerful brushing strokes.

February 9, 2007

Creator：Ichikawa Beian
Title of the works : "Kotobuki - Hanging scroll
A calligrapher of Edo late era, to be one of the ‘Bakumatsu Sanpitu’ which include Nukina Kaioku, Maki Ryoko．

November 9, 2006

Creator：Kusunoki Keishu
Title of the works : "Shikishi" - Shikishi
A Japanese painter, specially a proud lonely southern school painter who continued representing a serene and yet noble works taking no notice of fame.
Creator：Yokoo Shinrinjin
Title of the works : "kyokujitu zu shikishi" - Shikishi
Studied a southern school painting under Kodama Hakuko, Kosaka Shibaden and Komuro Suiun, and also pursued Chinese classics study．

September 19, 2006

Creator：Kimura Kenkado
Title of the works : "Beihou Sansui Zu" - Hanging scroll
In his later years, Kimura Kenkado was known as a great intellectual figure in the Naniwa-Osaka region. He was well versed in Chinese herb medicine, and other Chinese studies. He was spoke Dutch and understood Latin. He was a well known collector of paintings, curios, books, maps, minerals, animals and plants, and chinaware. This collection lead to many cultured people visiting him to ask for information as well as to study his collection. His intelligence and talents with painting, writing, green tea ceremony, and seal engraving lead to a total of 90,000 visitors according to his diaries. His studio became popular in networking of people due to the repository of information.