Museums

The subject of this painting is a camellia tree at what is known as the “camellia temple,” the Kon’yōzan Jizōin in Kyoto. The tree had double camellia blossoms in five colors that were known for losing their petals one by one instead the entire blossom’s dropping off at once, as is usual in camellias. It was about 400 years old when Gyoshū painted it. The composition, which seems to cut off the gold ground, was influenced by Tawaraya Sōtatsu’s style, but the results of Gyoshū’s careful observation of the tree and of the characteristically Taishō-period pursuit of rendering texture can be seen in the treatment of the flowers and tree trunk. The gold ground’s glitter has been toned down by filling it in by repeatedly sprinkling on finely ground gold leaf.

On a trip to Numazu, Seihō came across a speckled cat and was so taken with it that he acquired it from its owner. He brought the cat home to Kyoto, where he did a succession of photographs and sketches before completing this work. There is something very lifelike about the pose and the expression of the cat that clearly differentiates this work from earlier representations of animals. Even though Seihō still uses traditional pictorial expressions, for example, the technique of applying gold paint to the pupil and the fur, he is also pioneering a new style of animal painting.

• Dancing in the Flames By Hayami Gyoshū
• Divine Spirit: Mt. Fuji By Yokoyama Taikan
• Nude By Murakami Kagaku
• Kawai Gyokudō, Young Ladies Planting Rice
• End of the Year By Higashiyama Kaii
• Cherry Blossoms at Daigo-ji Temple By Okumura Togyū
• Court Ladies Enjoying Wayside Chrysanthemums By Iwasa Matabei
• Autumn Plants and Quails By Sakai Hōitsu