Sliding Doors with Ducks and Reeds [left of a pair] by Shibata Zeshin

Sliding Doors with Ducks and Reeds [left of a pair] c. 19th century

ivory

toned paper

water colours

japan

possibly oil pastel

coloured pencil

underpainting

pastel chalk drawing

painting painterly

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

ivory

watercolor

"Sliding Doors with Ducks and Reeds [left of a pair]" is a pair of sliding doors, created in the 19th century by the renowned Japanese artist Shibata Zeshin. These doors, part of a larger set, exemplify Zeshin's mastery of the *Yosegi* technique, where various woods are meticulously inlaid to create intricate patterns. The left door depicts a duck concealed among reeds, while the right door showcases a single duck resting on the woodgrain, highlighting the natural beauty and craftsmanship of Zeshin's art. This work, a testament to Zeshin's artistic prowess, showcases the beauty of Japanese nature in a refined and elegant manner.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Shibata Zeshin was one of the few artists widely recognized for his paintings on silk and paper and his innovative mastery of lacquering techniques and design. Early in his life Zeshin was apprenticed to the lacquer workshop of Koma Kansai II (1766–1835), who produced lacquerware for the ruling elite, as well as the wealthy merchant class. Yet Zeshin left at 16 to study painting. Zeshin’s mastery of both art forms is evident on this sliding door, with the lacquer skillfully fashioned to create a scene as evocative as an ink painting. The ducks are decorated in black and colored lacquers with gold and silver powders and shell inlays for the subtle iridescence of birds’ feathers. Using the technique of direct lacquering (kiji nuri), wherein the lacquer design is applied directly to the substrate, Zeshin deftly utilizes the grain of the wood to guide the verticality of the composition, and gently evoke the rippling of water.