Irises 1854 - 1857

Suzuki Kiitsu painted these two hanging scrolls, Irises, in the mid-19th century, using ink and color on silk. It’s a common theme in Japanese art, but here, it’s been approached with incredible care, which gives us a window into the refined aesthetics of the Edo period. Look closely, and you’ll see a meticulous layering of pigments. Kiitsu wasn't just applying color; he was building up depth and texture. The irises themselves are a vibrant blue, achieved through the use of mineral pigments, probably ground azurite. This would have been painstaking work, requiring both skill and patience to achieve this level of saturation and luminosity. The way the ink bleeds slightly into the silk also speaks to the artist’s mastery, controlling a notoriously absorbent ground to create soft, organic forms. The very act of creating such a refined painting, using expensive materials and time-consuming techniques, speaks to the patronage system of the time. It’s a testament to the cultural value placed on artistic skill and aesthetic contemplation. This wasn’t just decoration; it was a statement about taste, class, and cultural identity.