Gan Ku (1749-1838)Kishi
Spring and autumn, working in he field, returning geeseSigned: Gan Ku
Seals: Gan Ku Funzen
Technique: sumi on silk 97 x 35.5 (2x)
Mounting: blue brown brocade and beige silk
181.5 x 47
Box: inscribed
Condition: very good
Gan Ku was born in Kanazawa where he worked in the service of a dyer; he was a poor man. After he moved to Kyoto in 1780 he independently studied a number of different painting styles, which he amalgamated into the Kishi style. The Kishi School was considered one of the most important Kyoto schools during the 19th century. With Maruyama Ôkyo (1733-1795) and Go Shun (1752-1811), Gan Ku was an influential advocate of the shasei style (painting from nature). In view of the fact that he was ranked high on the rating list of famous people of Kyoto, the Heian jinbutsu shi, Gan Ku must have been a most important painter in Kyoto of the early 19th century.
Reference:
Ritto - Kishiha pp. 5-36 (# 1-22)
Roberts p. 28
Araki pp. 1162-1167
Kyoto '98: # 3-7, 8, 4 -10,12
Hillier '74 pp. 213-222 (# 158-163)
Price: SOLD