#asianart — Public Fediverse posts

"Paulownias and Chrysanthemums," Sakai Hōitsu, early 1800s.

Sakai Hōitsu (1761-1829) was a practitioner of the Rinpa school of painting; basically images with gold backgrounds, with classical subject matter that catered to the tastes of the wealthy. He wasn't an original Rinpa, which was invented in the 1600s, but he revived it in the 19th century.

Sakai was a popular painter and teacher in his adulthood, but poor health drove him to be a Buddhist priest and live the last 21 years of his life in seclusion. During that time, though, he studied the works of other artists and released a collection of his own work in book form, from this this is taken.

The line down the middle is because this is a two-part screen, for well-off patrons in small city quarters. The contrast of paulownia, a summer flower, with chrysanthemum, an autumn flower, indicates the changing seasons, but in Japanese art paulownia is a symbol for resilience and chrysanthemums for virtuous governance, so it's vaguely political as well.

Happy Flower Friday!

From the Cleveland Museum of Art.

#Art #SakaiHoitu #Rinpa #JapaneseArt #AsianArt #FlowerFriday

Asian Lesser False Vampire Bat (watercolour, artist unknown) – Kolkata, India. Held by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art

“A Bat with large ears, grey body, pale brown wings, and pink legs and arms, the animal posed with wings outspread to display the underside.”

https://asia.si.edu/explore-art-culture/collections/search/edanmdm:fsg_S1993.40/

#art #IndianArt #AsianArt #bats #BatAppreciationDay #watercolor #watercolour

https://www.europesays.com/ie/406212/ Exhibition explores connection between textiles and spirituality in Asia – The Art Newspaper #ArtBaselHongKong2026 #Arts #ArtsAndDesign #ArtsAndDesign #ArtsDesign #AsianArt #Design #Éire #Entertainment #Exhibitions #HongKong #IE #Ireland #textiles

"Heron in Rain," Ohara Koson, 1928.

Ohara (1877-1945) was a Japanese painter and printmaker of the shin-hanga school, a style that revived the old ukiyo-e stylings with modern influences.

Although his work includes some animal prints, historical works (mostly of the Russo-Japanese War), and some portraits, he's best known for his kachō-e works, or bird-and-flower, a style that began in China but spread all over Asia, from Korea to Iran. Bird-and-flower paintings are exactly that: Birds and flowers, and often very charming and decorative.

This print of a heron doesn't have flowers but it's one of Ohara's most popular works and reproduced often. The simplicity of the heron in the rain, presented with few details, verges on the abstract, and is a very good example of what the shin-hanga school could do.

From the Art Institute of Chicago.

#Art #OharaKoson #AsianArt #JapaneseArt #Shin_Hanga #Kacho_e

"Surface of Lake Misaka, Kai Province," Katsushika Hokusai, c. 1830-2.

Hokusai (1760-1849) is important not only as amazing artist in his own right, but as a major influence on Western art.

THE major painter of the ukiyo-e school, he was also a driving force in moving the style from just being about portraits of courtesans and actors, to being about landscapes, plants, and animals.

This is part of his woodblock print series "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji" which includes that famous tidal wave painting that everyone has seen. That series was a bestseller in Japan and influenced later artists who began publishing their own prints of various scenes around Japan.

Hokusai's work became popular in Europe in the latter half of the 19th century, and many of the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists, like Monet, Renoir, and Gauguin, were fans of his and admitted their debt to him.

Interestingly, the mountain in this print is clear of snow, while the reflection shows the famous snow cap. Nobody is sure why that is; perhaps a symbol of the seasons, or perhaps just a way to draw the eye to the reflection. It's hard to believe it was just a goof!

From a private collection.

#Art #Hokusai #Ukiyo_e #MountFuji #AsianArt #JapaneseArt #ILoveThis

By Georgette Chen (born Chang Li Ying, 1906-1993), Self-Portrait, oil on wood, 35 by 27 cm (13 3/4 by 10 1/2 inches), photo: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 04 April 2015. #arthistory #womanartist #womenartists #asianart #painting #oilpainting #WomensHistoryMonth

From the catalogue note: “Georgette Chen’s modernist aesthetic and profound comprehension of the oil painting medium introduced a fresh surge to Singapore’s pre-existing artistic paradigm in the 20th century. Though landscapes and still life works are her famed forte, Chen’s striking self-portrait serves as a remarkable and rare testament to one of the most groundbreaking strides in the Nanyang School. As the singular female artist in this group, she delved into an emotional search for self-identity as she fashioned this image and appeared stalwart in her artistic fortitude.”

I don’t know much about fine art. Been to a bunch of museums and seen epic, historic paintings…but fine art is still a bit above my pay grade. I do, however, love textiles - so I collect carpets, wall hangings, blankets and the like. I am particularly fond of Uzbek Suzani textiles, and I’ve been able to acquire a number of pieces at auction (in most cases for ridiculously cheap prices). Here are a few of my favorites. A couple on my dining room table, and one on the hallway wall. #textiles #AsianArt #embroidery #Uzbekistan #CentralAsia

National Museum of Asian Art Returns Three Bronze Sculptures to the Government of India Following the Museum’s Comprehensive Provenance Research.
One Sculpture Is to Remain on Long-Term Loan, Enabling the Museum To Share Its Complete History With the Public
https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/national-museum-asian-art-returns-three-bronze-sculptures-government-india #globalmuseum #museums #AsianArt

Your art history post for today: by Vietnamese-French painter Mai Trung Thu (1906-1980), "Grand-Mère (Grandmother)," 1944, ink and gouache on silk mounted on cardboard, 60 by 45 cm; 23 1/2 by 17 1/2 in., photo: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, July 8, 2020. #arthistory #asianart

More info in ALT.

By Vietnamese artist Lê Phổ (1907-2001), Nativité (The Nativity), 1941, ink and gouache on silk, 69 × 54.5 cm. (27 1/8 × 21½ in.), photo: Christie’s Hong Kong, 28 Nov 2015. #arthistory #vietnameseart #asianart #christmas #art

"Woman with Morning Glories," Katsushika Ōi, c. 1820s.

Katsushika (c. 1800 - c. 1866) was the daughter of the great Hokusai, by his second wife, but also an accomplished artist in her own right.

Not a lot about her life is known for sure, except she was her father's apprentice and assistant, and married another artist...but divorced him three years later. She moved back in with her father and never remarried, the two of them always busy with their art.

This print is intriguing; at first glance the woman seems to be simpering at the bowl of morning glories (on a tray that absurdly resembles a bathroom scale to modern eyes), but a closer look shows what may be a sheet of paper hidden behind the fan. Is she reading a clandestine letter? A poem from a lover? A naughty print? Who knows?

Sadly, not much of her art is known to survive to this day, but it is known that she was highly regarded in her lifetime. It's possible that some of her work is misattributed to others, including her father. But she remains the object of study and admiration.

Happy Flower Friday!

From the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

#Art #KasushikaOi #JapaneseArt #AsianArt #ukiyo_e #MorningGlory #WomenArtists #WomenInArt #FlowerFriday

"Fukusa (Gift Cover)," Unknown artist, 1840-70.

An old Japanese tradition was that gifts would be presented on a tray or in a box, and would be draped with a fukusa, a showy cloth, usually embroidered, that would show off the giver's wealth and/or social position.

Here we have a fukusa of blue satin, embroidered with cranes in silk and metallic thread. Cranes are a symbol of longevity in Japan, as they were believed to live for 1,000 years.

I can imagine this being used to cover a gift from a younger person to an older relative or parent, perhaps, communicating a wish for a long life. The fukusa tradition has all but died out in Japan, which seems a pity, but at least we have examples like this to keep the memory alive.

From the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

#Art #AsianArt #JapaneseArt #Embroidery #FabricArts #Fukusa #Cranes #FancyGiftWrap

"Plum Blossoms," Jin Nong, 1757.

Jin Nong (1687-c.1763) was a noted calligrapher and painter of China's Qing Dynasty. Not much about his early life is known; he only came to prominence in his late 50s, when as a childless widower he produced a series of nonconformist works.

While a lot of his work was very traditional, he loaded it with symbolism, and he preferred to sell his work in the open market, rather than having a private patron, which was the usual course of action for painters of the era.

Also a writer, poet, art critic and art dealer, Jin was listed as one of the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou, a group of painters who rejected orthodox ideas of art while producing highly individualistic and expressive works.

Happy Flower Friday!

From the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

#Art #ChineseArt #AsianArt #JinNong #EightEccentricsOfYangzhou #FlowerFriday

"Portrait of a Rabbit," Yabu Chosui, 1867.

I am unable to find any information about Yabu Chosui other than their dates (1814 to c.1870) and several other works, which annoys me.

This is a surimono print, a genre of Japanese printmaking that was generally in small runs and commissioned for a special occasion, like the New Year, which is believed to be the inspiration for this print, assumed to have been made in honor of the Year of the Rabbit.

Surimono prints were commissioned and collected by the educated literati, and as such could be more experimental and extravagant than the usual commercial prints. This is a bit surreal, in giving us a huge rabbit...but the body resembles the bag of Hotei, the god of prosperity, which often figured in New Year's art, and also possibly is meant to resemble the moon, where an immortal rabbit lives, according to Japanese mythology. It's also possibly meant to reflect a common New Year's symbol, the rising sun, as we have the rabbit against a pink field like a morning sky.

Surimono prints were also commissioned by poetry societies to honor a prizewinning poem, and by kabuki actors, to commemorate significant moments in their careers.

Happy Portrait Monday!

From the Art Institute of Chicago.

#Art #YabuChosui #Surimono #JapaneseArt #AsianArt #PortraitMonday

"Bathtime," Kitagawa Utamaro, c. 1801.

The life of Utamaro (c.1753-1806) is largely a mystery; we don't know where he was born or who his family was. Many believe he was married and had a child, as the same mother and child show up in a lot of his prints of domestic life.

His work first appeared in the 1770s, at the height of Japan's Edo period; at the time, he worked mostly designing prints for books, but later gave that up for making prints of individual women. His portraits of women, many of them geishas, made his fame. He later went on to do many works of insects, flowers, animals, erotica, and scenes of domestic life. He was arrested in 1804 for violating Imperial censorship laws, seemingly by depicting samurai with their crests accurately copied, which was forbidden, but it's unknown what his punishment was.

This is from his later period, perhaps a depiction of his wife and child. It's a sincerely portrayed work of an intimate moment between mother and child. Upon his death in 1806, he had no known heirs, and his tomb was left neglected and untended, until fans restored it in 1917.

From the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

#Art #JapaneseArt #KitagawaUtamaro #ukiyo_e #WomenInArt #MothersInArt #AsianArt

Figure Mooring a Boat beautifully embodies tranquility, capturing the essence of the "night rain over Xiao and Xiang." Kannan’s fusion of Chinese and Korean influences invites reflection on cultural exchange in art. What resonates with you in this peaceful landscape?
#ClevelandArt #Kannan #AsianArt
https://clevelandart.org/art/2015.474

"Blue Irises," Ohara Koson, 1900-30.

Up at Mom's for a couple of days. Happy Flower Friday!

#art #AsianArt #JapaneseArt #Shin_hanga #OharaKoson #FlowerFriday

"Temma Bridge at Settsu Province," Katsushika Hokusai, c. 1834.

Hokusai (c. 1760-1849) is THE great Japanese artist; I recall learning about him as a child, from a book that also taught about Leonardo da Vinci and Pieter Brueghel the Elder.

Temma Bridge (also called Tenman or Tenma) once stood over the Yodo River in Osaka, which was an important waterway at the time. Here it is depicted at the height of the Tenjin Festival, a huge affair that involves a river procession followed by fireworks.

This was part of Hokusai's series of prints, "Remarkable Views of Bridges in Various Provinces" and may have been based on an earlier print that emphasized its semicircular shape.

I may have to look up this series; there's something about the idea of a collection of views of bridges that I find enormously charming.

From the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

#Art #AsianArt #JapaneseArt #Hokusai #ukiyo_e #Bridges #Prints

Your art history post for today: by Japanese woman artist Negishi Ayako (1913-1948), Waiting for Makeup (Keshō o matsu化粧 を待), 1938, black ink and coloured pigment on paper, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. #arthistory #womanartist #japan #womenartists #asianart

From the museum’s Instagram: “Already an accomplished contemporary artist by her early 20’s, Ayako specialised in bijin-ga, or portraits of beautiful people.

In this work, two women wear stylish Western-cut clothing with 'Marcelled' hair waves, made popular by a French hair stylist at the time. We see hairpins and a beaded bag by their side – a reflection of the latest Japanese fashions of the 1930s.

🔍 If you look even closer, you can see the beautiful use of vibrantly coloured traditional Japanese powdered pigments. Applied with water, the pigments often leave a 'puddling' water-stain effect after drying.”

Your art history post for today: by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892), Viewing fireworks from a boat in the evening cool, ink, colour, gold and gofun on silk, 11¼ x 12½ in. (28.5 x 31.8 cm), photo: Sotheby’s London 14 December 2021. (Gofun is a white pigment made from crushed oyster shells.) #arthistory #asianart #artspout

Information on the artist, from the Philadelphia Museum of Art: “Tsukioka Yoshitoshi was the last great master of the traditional Japanese color woodcut genre known as ukiyo-e. Yoshitoshi came of age as an artist during Japan’s dramatic cultural transformation in the 1860s, after the country opened to international trade after two hundred years of isolation. Just as his country struggled to reconcile its reverence for tradition with the realities of the modern world, Yoshitoshi navigated a range of traditional and contemporary themes in his prints: the heroism of samurai warriors, poetic images of figures in nature, female beauty, historic accounts, ghost stories, and the horrors of the battlefield. Across his diverse output, he masterfully incorporated Western visual concepts of foreshortening and perspective that were popular during the Meiji period (1868–1912).”

"Noisy: A Young Woman of the Kansei Period with a Purring Cat," Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, 1888.

Yoshitoshi (1839-1892) was the last great master of the ukiyo-e woodblock print, and an innovator of the style, at a time when Japan's culture was rapidly modernizing and leaving traditional arts and styles behind.

He was coming off a period of severe depression after his fame for producing bloody prints of violence faded...he was reflecting the violence in Japanese culture at the time. However, he found a career resurrection in producing images of actors in various dramas, and the eternal ukiyo-e subject, beautiful women.

The identity of this woman is unknown; although she's shown in the dress and style of the Kansei period (1789-1801), it's likely that the subject was a geisha or courtesan. Her snuggling of the cat is an unconventional pose, but charming. The cat even has the requisite bell on its collar.

Sadly, Yoshitoshi's physical and mental health began to deteriorate. He was hospitalized for a while, but was released and died of a cerebral hemorrhage at 53.

From the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

#Art #JapaneseArt #AsianArt #TsukiokaYoshitoshi #Ukiyo_e #WomenInArt #CatsOfMastodon

Wang Jianzhang's "Spring Rain Thatched Hut" envelops the essence of tranquility, merging landscape with poetic expression. Witness how nature and literature beautifully intertwine in this masterpiece. What stories does this serene scene evoke for you?
#ClevelandArt #ArtHistory #AsianArt
https://clevelandart.org/art/2008.108

Utagawa Hiroshige (Japanese, 1797–1858). New Year's Eve Foxfires at the Changing Tree, Oji, No. 118 from One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, 9th month of 1857. Woodblock print, sheet: 14 3/16 x 9 1/4 in. (36.0 x 23.5 cm); image: 13 3/8 x 8 3/4 in. (34.0 x 22.2 cm), this impression in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum. #arthistory #asianart #woodblock #woodblockprint #printmaking

From the museum: “In the late 1850s, while Japanese color prints were dominated by themes of the fantastic, Hiroshige emphasized the realities of the observed world in his work. However, here he has ventured into the world of spirits. It was believed that on New Year's Eve all the foxes of the surrounding provinces would gather at a particular tree near Oji Inari Shrine, the headquarters of the regional cult of the god Inari. There the foxes would change their dress for a visit to the shrine, where they would be given orders for the coming year. On the way, the animals would emit distinctive flames by which local farmers were able to predict the crops of the coming year.”

Festival Night Fireworks, 1924, by Yamamura Toyonari (1885-1942), woodblock print. As a print it appears in many collections both private and public. This image from the Carnegie Museum of Art. #arthistory #asianart #woodblockprint #printmaking

July! A new month, a new art history theme. For July, my theme is light in the darkness. Today we have Fireworks at Ike-no-hata (Ike-no-hata hanabi), by Kobayashi Kiyochika (Japanese, 1847–1915), Publisher: Fukuda Kumajirō, 1881, woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper, 23.8 × 33.6 cm (9 3/8 × 13 1/4 in.), Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. #arthistory #asianart #woodblockprint #woodblock #printmaking

From the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art: ‘On September 3, 1868, the city called Edo ceased to exist. Renamed Tokyo (“Eastern Capital”) by Japan’s new rulers, the city became the primary experiment in a national drive toward modernization. Kobayashi Kiyochika (1847–1915), a minor retainer of the recently deposed shogun, followed his master into exile. When he returned to his birthplace in 1874, Kiyochika found Tokyo filled with railroads, steamships, gaslights, telegraph lines, and large brick buildings—never-before-seen entities that were now ingrained in the cityscape.

Self-trained as an artist, Kiyochika set out to record his views of Tokyo. A devastating fire engulfed the city in 1881 and effectively ended the project, but the ninety-three prints he had completed were unlike anything previously produced by a Japanese artist. Avoiding the colorful and celebratory cityscapes of traditional woodblock prints, Kiyochika focused on light and its effects. Dawn, dusk, and night were his primary moments of observation, and his subjects—both old and new—are veiled in sharply angled light, shadows, and darkness. To accommodate this new way of seeing, Kiyochika effectively invented a visual vocabulary that incorporated elements of oil painting, copperplate printing, and photography. Interest in Kiyochika’s prints revived in the 1910s, when Tokyo intellectuals began to interpret the series as a critique of modernity.’

Your art history post for today: Love Letter (Kesobumi), 1906, by Kajita Hanko (Japanese, 1870-1917), woodblock print; ink and color on paper, 83/4 x 11 3/4 in. (22.2 x 29.8 cm), this impression in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. #arthistory #asianart #woodblock #printmaking

From Wikipedia: “Kajita's birth name was Jojirō Kajita. He was born the son of a metal engraver in Shitaya, Tokyo on July 23, 1870… He studied under Nabeta Gyokuei [ja] and Ohara Koson… He participated in forming several arts organizations, and was best known for creating illustrations for magazines and newspapers…

He married the writer Kitada Usurai in 1898. They had a child, Hiroe, the next year. Kitada died of intestinal tuberculosis soon afterward, in 1900… Kajita died on April 23, 1917, of tuberculosis…

Kajita's students include Kokei Kobayashi, Seison Maeda, and Togyū Okumura, among others.”

Your art history post for today: The Foxes' Wedding (Kitsune no yomeiri), from the album Tawamure-e (Playful Pictures), by Adachi Ginkō (1853–1902), ca. 1884–85, woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper, 12 x 18.2 cm (4 3/4 x 7 3/16 in.), this impression in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. #arthistory #woodblock #woodblockprint #asianart

From Wikipedia: ‘The term "kitsune no yomeiri" can refer to several things: atmospheric ghost lights, in which it appears as if paper lanterns from a wedding procession are floating through the dark; sunshowers; or various other phenomena that may resemble wedding processions and are referenced in classical Japanese kaidan, essays, and legends. The kitsune no yomeiri is always closely related to foxes, or kitsune, who often play tricks on humans in Japanese legend; various Shinto rituals and festive rites relating to the kitsune no yomeiri have been developed in various parts of Japan.’

"Three Women Playing Musical Instruments," Katsushika Ōi, 1850.

Katsushika Ōi (c. 1800 - c. 1866) was the daughter of the great Hokusai and a very talented painter in her own right. Little about her life is known, not even her exact dates. It is known that she married unhappily in 1824, and divorced her husband three years later. She never remarried, remaining with her father to tend to his workshop and work alongside him.

She was especially talented in the bijin-ga genre, or "paintings of beautiful women," of which this is an example. We have three ladies (one with her back turned to us, a daring stylistic choice for the time) playing assorted traditional Japanese instruments( (sorry, my education doesn't cover what these may be). I'm not sure if these are meant to be geishas or court ladies or what, but it is kind of charming to see these ladies sitting and playing music, facing each other rather than an audience....which makes me lean toward them being court ladies, playing for the joy of it.

From the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

#Art #AsianArt #JapaneseArt #WomenAritsts #KatsushikaOi #Ukiyo_e #Bijin_ga #Music

Your art history post for today: by Japanese artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861), detail, “The Wedding Colour Alteration Ceremony,” also called “The Bride Changing Clothes After the Wedding Ceremony,” ca. 1844-1847, woodblock print, ink and color on paper. As a print it appears in many collections, both public and private. #arthistory #asianart #woodblockprint #woodblock #printmaking

A great piece about the Naoshima New Art Museum from @thu.bsky.social . Probably the best, I've read so far. www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025... #art #Japan #Naoshima #Asia #AsianArt

New Naoshima museum bets on As...

Portrait de Thi Ba, 1935

Painting by Alix Aymé (1894-1989), a French born artist who lived in China and French Indochine (Vietnam and Laos). Her In Laos, she became acquainted with the household of King Sisavang Vong, and her large frescos were displayed in the Royal Palace, Luang Prabang.

#alixaymé #art #artist #artworld #indochine #vietnam #laos #southeastasianart #frenchartist #asianart #worldofart #alixayme #portraitart #portrait #kunst #künstler #painter #peinture #artoftheday #paintingoftheday

"Two Girls on a Porch," Suzuki Harunobu, c. 1750.

Little is known of Harunobu (c. 1725 - 1770) other than his art. He was an innovator, the first to do full-color woodblock prints, rather than two or three color prints.

Although a prominent member of the ukiyo-e school, he didn't limit himself to geishas, courtesans, actors, and sumo wrestlers, but also many ordinary people of Edo street life, like street vendors, errand boys, workmen, and others. He often quoted poetry that related to his subject in some way, but also would often poke fun at his subject.

Here we have two young women on a porch; they wear form-fitting kimonos and their hair is in elaborate styles, so according to my sketchy knowledge, that may indicate they're courtesans. That their sashes are tied in the back indicates they were dressed by maids. One holds a broom or mop but is pausing in her labors to look at a scroll held by the other. Is it a poem? A letter from an admirer? Impossible for me to tell, and I don't have access to any translations of the calligraphy, so I can only guess. But it's a nice image anyway.

From the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Charlotte, NC\

#Art #JapaneseArt #AsianArt #SuzukiHarunobu #Ukiyo_e #FloatingWorld #Woodcut #WomenInArt

Feed for artists who are Black, Indigenous, & People of Color. This feed searches A LOT of keywords to be comprehensive of who's included in this acronym. It also filters out AI images. 💜🖼️ or #bipocart to feature work. #indigenousart #blackart #asianart #asianamericanart #latinxart #arabart #noai

RE: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:4rro35bmzsvazmkpwmdhceza/feed/aaag2fpv4w2g6

"Painting of the Sun, Moon, and Five Peaks," Unknown Korean Artist, 19th or early 20th Centuries.

The product of an unknown artist from Korea's Joseon Dynasty, this painting is also known as a Irworobongdo, and normally was a folding screen that stood behind the Emperor's throne, as a symbol of his majesty and power. The actual meaning of the symbolism here is forgotten and can only be guessed at. It's worth noting that the concept of five peaks has long been important to the royal houses of Korea.

Many of these were produced in the heyday of the Joseon Dynasty, but today only about 20 are extant, none of which are signed. While frequently done as multipanel folding screens, this particular example is done as a single panel. Versions of this always had the sun, moon, and five peaks, but could vary in details, color scheme, and arrangement.

From the National Palace Museum of Korea, Seoul.

#Art #KoreanArt #AsianArt #UnknownArtist #Irworobongdo #Joseon

"Water Lilies," Ohara Koson, 1920s.

Ohara (1877-1945) was a pre-eminent painter and woodblock print designer of the late 18th and early 20th centuries. He belonged to the shin-hanga school, which revived the styles and aesthetics of the ukiyo-e school, but also was a major practitioner of the kachō-e subschool... kachō-e means "bird and flower". His specialty was images of the transitory moments of nature, like a bird that could fly away any second, or as we have here, beautiful blooms but with a pad that's been nibbled on.

He also did some historical work, with scenes from the Russo-Japanese war, and some satirical prints, like a delightful scene of sumo-wrestling frogs. But his kachō-e work is best-known. He sold well in the United States, even during the start of WWII.

From the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

#Art #AsianArt #JapaneseArt #WaterLilies #OharaKoson #ukiyo_e #Kacho_e #BirdsAndFlowers #Woodcut #FlowerFriday

"Illustrated Legends of the Kitano Tenjin Shrine," Unknown Artist, late 13th century.

This scroll painting, from the Kamakura period, depicts a scene from the legendary life of the Shinto deity Tenjin, who originally was a poet, scholar, and statesman named Sugawara Michizane (845–903), who was slandered at court and died in exile.

Various natural disasters occurred after his death, which in Shinto belief indicates a restless and wronged spirit. In 942 his spirit somehow indicated he wanted to be honored at a shrine in Kyoto, where he was deified as Tenjin, a god of agriculture and a patron of the wrongfully accused. His worship later declared him a patron of literature and music.

This scroll shows how a dragon came out of the body of the minister who slandered Michizane, and declared he was wrongfully accused. The minister then dropped dead.

From the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

#Art #JapaneseArt #AsianArt #Shinto #UnknownArtist #KamakuraPeriod

"Famous Heroes of the Kabuki Stage Played by Frogs," Utagawa Kuniyoshi, c. 1875.

Utagawa was sometimes dissatisfied and disaffected with the shogunate in Japan, which led him to create some stunning works of caricature, which can be seen here. Here we have an assortment of scenes from various kabuki plays, all apparently dealing with dramatic deeds by samurai...only with frogs.

These were the days of the Tenpō Reforms, which cracked down on entertainment and banned luxury goods. Kabuki actors were required to wear hats outside lest they be too conspicuous, and the content of ukiyo-e art and popular literature was regulated.

The censorship had the unintended consequence of forcing Utagawa to be very creative and sneaky with his material. Caricature such as this was a veiled criticism of the shogunate, and while it technically evaded the censors, the public ate it up, along with other caricatures he did.

So we can add Utagawa to the Caricature Hall of Fame, with Goya and Daumier!

Interestingly, this print is commonly dated to c. 1875, but Utagawa died in 1861, so I assume this was a design he put together that was printed posthumously.

From the Library of Congress, Washington, DC

#Art #JapaneseArt #AsianArt #ukiyo_e #Caricature #Frogs #Kabuki #Ribbit #UtagawaKuniyoshi

The swirling drama of Sesson's "Dragon and Tiger" captivates as the dragon ascends through clouds, embodying power and grace. The dynamic waves and intricate details draw viewers into this realm of myth. What stories unfold in these swirling waters?

#ClevelandArt #AsianArt #EdoPeriod #MythicalCreatures
https://clevelandart.org/art/1959.136.1

"Painting of Mice Nibbling on a Watermelon," Shin Saimdang, 16th century.

Shin Saimdang (1504-1551) wasn't just a painter. She was also a writer, poet, and calligrapher, and a noted intellectual nicknamed "Eojin," or "Wise Mother." She was mother to the great Confucianist philosopher Yi Yi.

Supported by a loving father, she received an education normally only given to men, and while he arranged a marriage for her, he was sure to select a husband who would allow her to continue with her artistic work. The marriage produced eight children but was not a happy one, and when she died suddenly at 46, her husband moved his mistress into the house, which created chaos for the family.

She also became the first woman to be depicted on a South Korean banknote!

This painting is typical of her work; flowers, animals, and insects dominate.

From the National Museum of Korea, Seoul.

#Art #KoreanArt #WomanArtists #AsianArt #ShinSaimdang

🌞 Good morning, art lovers! 🌞
Happy Friday, August 30th! Let’s start the day with a stretch, a smile, and a positive mindset.
May today be filled with wonderful thoughts, bright ideas, and positivity. Wishing cheerfulness of mind and body to all
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/talk-to-the-hand-a-chipmunk-command-lena-owens.html?newartwork=true

#TalkToTheHand #Chipmunk #WildlifePhotography #NatureArt #ArtLovers #OLenaArt #RockyMountainNationalPark #Colorado #GicleePrints #CustomFraming #KungFuPanda #MartialArts #AsianArt #NatureLovers #ArtCollectors #SupportArtists

Singapore artist Israfil Ridhwan

#artist #art #artworld #IsrafilRidhwan #singaporeartist #artaroundtheworld #asianart #southasianart #southasianartist #elhombre #elhombremasculino #themasculineman #fridakahlo #basquiat #oiloncanvas #oilandacrylicmarker #aceylicmarker #peinture #künstler #kunst #artista #painter #painting #pintor #pittore #maler #Dermännlichemann #männlichemänner

I'll Tell You What the Clairvoyant Said

Oil on Canvas, 2023 by Singapore Artist Israfil Ridhwan

#israfilridhwan #art #artist #artword #clairvoyant #thelovers #tarot #tarotcards #oiloncanvas #oil #huile #öl #oleo #paintingoftheday #painting #arte #singaporeart #singaporeartist #asianart #kunst #künstler

I'll Tell You What the Clairvoyant Said

Oil on Canvas, 2023 by Singapore Artist Israfil Ridhwan

#israfilridhwan #art #artist #artword #clairvoyant #thelovers #tarot #tarotcards #oiloncanvas #oil #huile #öl #oleo #paintingoftheday #painting #arte #singaporeart #singaporeartist #asianart #kunst #künstler

I'll Tell You What the Clairvoyant Said

Oil on Canvas, 2023 by Singapore Artist Israfil Ridhwan

#israfilridhwan #art #artist #artword #clairvoyant #thelovers #tarot #tarotcards #oiloncanvas #oil #huile #öl #oleo #paintingoftheday #painting #arte #singaporeart #singaporeartist #asianart #kunst #künstler

I'll Tell You What the Clairvoyant Said

Oil on Canvas, 2023 by Singapore Artist Israfil Ridhwan

#israfilridhwan #art #artist #artword #clairvoyant #thelovers #tarot #tarotcards #oiloncanvas #oil #huile #öl #oleo #paintingoftheday #painting #arte #singaporeart #singaporeartist #asianart #kunst #künstler

Asian Art Guimet Museum, Paris

#photography #blackandwhitephotography #shiva #dancingshiva #asianart #museeguimet #guimetmuseum #jlbouzou #france #paris #divinity #spirituality #indianart

Shiva performs the cosmic dance of destruction and creation of the universe.

Thanks again to Lou Mo (Taiwan) for a great chat. If you have missed it, this Annotations dialogue continues to be available on video at https://youtu.be/4eFx1x5sDKk and as podcast at https://annotations.art.
#decoloniality #curating #art #africanart #asianart

Thanks again to Lou Mo (Taiwan) for a great chat. If you have missed it, this Annotations dialogue continues to be available on video at https://youtu.be/4eFx1x5sDKk and as podcast at https://annotations.art.
#decoloniality #curating #art #africanart #asianart

Wu Wanjing is head of #Xinyu (a city in east China's #Jiangxi Province) Xiabu #EmbroideryArt Research Institute. As a municipal-level inheritor of xiabu (literally "cloth for summer") embroidery #crafts, she has led her team in inheriting and promoting the art form for years. "I think xiabu embroidery is not only a #TraditionalHandicraft, but also an expression of #culture. I hope my work will help people #learn about the craft. I will always do my best to develop intangible cultural heritage," Wu says.

#Xiabu, a traditional #handmade #textile, is made from #China #grass, also known as #ramie. The linen is comfortable, durable and easy to wash. Xinyu has a long #history of both planting ramie and producing xiabu. Xiabu #embroidery is a unique type of embroidery in Jiangxi. In 2014, #China added #XiabuEmbroidery to an extended list of the country's items of intangible #CulturalHeritage.

https://www.womenofchina.cn/womenofchina/html1/people/DreamChasers/2406/928-1.htm

#AsianMastodon #ChineseArt #needlework #needlecrafts #AsianArt #ChineseEmbroidery #ChineseCulture #ChineseHeritage #TextileArt #WomenOfChina #EmbroideryCrafts #ArtsAndCrafts #ChineseTraditionalArt #ArtForms

Wu Wanjing is head of #Xinyu (a city in east China's #Jiangxi Province) Xiabu #EmbroideryArt Research Institute. As a municipal-level inheritor of xiabu (literally "cloth for summer") embroidery #crafts, she has led her team in inheriting and promoting the art form for years. "I think xiabu embroidery is not only a #TraditionalHandicraft, but also an expression of #culture. I hope my work will help people #learn about the craft. I will always do my best to develop intangible cultural heritage," Wu says.

#Xiabu, a traditional #handmade #textile, is made from #China #grass, also known as #ramie. The linen is comfortable, durable and easy to wash. Xinyu has a long #history of both planting ramie and producing xiabu. Xiabu #embroidery is a unique type of embroidery in Jiangxi. In 2014, #China added #XiabuEmbroidery to an extended list of the country's items of intangible #CulturalHeritage.

https://www.womenofchina.cn/womenofchina/html1/people/DreamChasers/2406/928-1.htm

#AsianMastodon #ChineseArt #needlework #needlecrafts #AsianArt #ChineseEmbroidery #ChineseCulture #ChineseHeritage #TextileArt #WomenOfChina #EmbroideryCrafts #ArtsAndCrafts #ChineseTraditionalArt #ArtForms