(Brown earthenware basins) 1887

This painting by Japanese artist Shibata Zeshin depicts three earthenware basins, or bowls, with the artist's signature and inscription in the upper right corner. This painting is a great example of Zeshin's meticulous depiction of everyday objects, a style he mastered during his long and prolific career. Zeshin, a renowned artist who was born in 1807 and died in 1891, was considered a master of the Japanese art form known as "ukiyo-e," meaning "pictures of the floating world." These paintings typically portrayed scenes of everyday life, entertainment, and popular culture, much like Zeshin's "Brown earthenware basins" painting, but he also excelled in painting landscapes, birds, and flowers. Zeshin's works are known for their fine detail and delicate brushwork, making them highly sought-after by collectors today.