Gamboling Puppies 1779

hanging-scroll

amateur sketch

toned paper

light pencil work

pencil sketch

japan

personal sketchbook

hanging-scroll

pencil drawing

coffee painting

underpainting

watercolour illustration

watercolor

"Gamboling Puppies" is a captivating hanging scroll painting created by Maruyama Ōkyo in 1779. Ōkyo, a prominent figure in the Maruyama-Shijō school, was renowned for his meticulous attention to detail and his realistic depictions of nature. This painting, showcasing two playful puppies against a soft, light background, exemplifies Ōkyo's mastery of ink and wash techniques, capturing the animals' fluffy fur and lively expressions. The work is a testament to Ōkyo's ability to imbue everyday subjects with a sense of charm and life, captivating audiences with its simple yet heartwarming composition.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

⋮

One of O_kyo's great innovations was to sketch directly from nature. This approach, together with his interest in anatomy, led to works imbued with Western realism. Even when O_kyo painted in the traditional broad brush manner, as seen here, his use of foreshortening gave his subjects a convincing degree of volume. While O_kyo painted a wide range of subjects, including figures, animals, and landscapes, his lighthearted portrayals of gamboling puppies are particularly numerous.