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Tsuji Kakô (1870-1931)
nihonga
Yuki daruma
Signed: Kakô
Seals: Shishun
Technique: sumi and light blue on paper 38,5 x 51,8
Date: c. 1926
Mounting: gold decorated ocre silk and pink silk 140, 65,2
Box: signed double
Condition: very good

The “haiku” reads: 百尺の竿振て、松の雪払う。
Hyakushaku no sao furite, matsu no yuki harau.
Wielding with a bamboo stick
Of a 100 foot long to sweep
Snow from the pines
(HK)

Kakô was one the most important painters of the modern Kyoto school.
Kôno Bairei (1844-95) taught both him and Takeuchi Seihô (1864-1942), who eclipsed Kakô during his lifetime. In my opinion though, Kakô was the better artist, more innovative and daring. The tide is turning now and his art is getting the recognition it deserves.

Kakô was born in Kyoto. His father was a Yûzen textile artisan, who encouraged his son to pursue a career in painting. In 1880 he became a pupil of Kôno Bairei (1844-95). From 1899 on he studied Zen meditation under the Zen master Sôen Mokurai (1854-1930) at the Kennin-ji, which became quite an important element in his work. He served as director of the Kyoto Municipal School of Fine Arts and Crafts, juror for the Teiten and several Kyoto exhibition groups and up to 1920 he was a frequent exhibitor and prizewinner at the Bunten.

Reference:
Kyoto 2006
Berry & Morioka ‘99 p.40-53 (# 29-45)
Conant p. 327 (# 117-119)
Aburai p. 253-254
Roberts p.189
Araki p. 2027

Price: ON REQUEST