Irises and Moth 1840 - 1860

Suzuki Kiitsu created this hanging scroll of ink and color on silk of irises and a moth in Japan, sometime in the first half of the 19th century. Kiitsu worked in the late Edo period, a time of relative peace and prosperity, but also increasing social stratification and rigid class structures. Though the natural world had always been a popular subject, the intensified focus on naturalism in paintings like this served as a kind of visual escape from social realities. Kiitsu belonged to the Rinpa school, which combined naturalistic depictions with decorative elements, seen here in the stylized rendering of the irises. Rinpa artists often came from merchant families, outside the established art academies. The school offered a space to express alternative visions of beauty and value, even challenging the dominant aesthetic norms of the time. By examining the artist's biography, the cultural context, and the Rinpa school’s history, we can better understand the complex interplay between artistic expression and social forces at play.