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Ogata Gekkô (1859-1920)
Nihonga
Unabata matsu, Pine on the beach
Signed: Gekkô
Seals: unread
Technique: sumi on paper 131 x 46,2
Mounting: blue grey crushed paper 196 x 60,4
Condition: a little creased, otherwise very good

Like a true Japanese style painter, Gekkô successfully achieved a wonderful mixture of everything, and apart from Ukiyo-e and Nanga, he also included a lot of Shijô style elements in his work.
In his early career Gekkô decorated rickshaws, and he designed and painted lacquer ware and chinaware for export.
Gekkô was a self-taught Japanese style painter, printmaker, illustrator, and decorator of pottery and lacquer, influenced by the style of Kikuchi Yôsai. His skills were discovered by Kawanabe Kyôsai, after which he started a career as an illustrator for papers and magazines. In 1885 he exhibited a painting in the first exhibition of the Art association Kanga-kai. In the 1890s Mizuno Toshikata and Gekkô shared the popularity and fame of being the leading illustrators of their day.
He was also a founding member of the Bunten and a frequent prizewinner at its exhibitions. After his American debut in 1893 with a painting in the world exhibition in Columbia, he won a gold medal at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904 with a selection from his print series: "100 views of Mount Fuji".

Reference:
Roberts p. 123
Merritt p.115
Araki p. 319

Price: ON REQUEST