Nihonga
Neko, CatSigned: Ôkoku
Seals: Ôkoku
Technique: sumi and a touch of green on paper 131.5 x 30.7
Mounting: green gold damask 201 x 44.2
Condition: good
Ôkoku is known as a delicate, sensitive painter of kachôga (bird and flower painting), and landscapes. He was a rather independent artist, who remained true to his own high standards and didn’t allow himself to be influenced by fashion. But in the end his independence made him lonely.
Ôkoku studied painting with Imao Keinen (1845-1924) and Chinese classics with the Confucian scholar Yamamoto Keigu (1827-1903). In his early career he was a successful artist, a frequent winner of prizes at the Bunten; and from 1913 on an adjudicator for both Bunten and Teiten, official government-sponsored exhibitions. During his later years, though, he felt unrecognized and turned to poetry and calligraphy.
Reference:
Sen-oku Hakuko kan 2013
Hanatori 2001
Morioka & Berry ‘99 pp. 206-11 (# 58-59)
Roberts p. 89
Aburai p.171
Price: EUR 1,000 / USD 1,060
