Spring [left of a pair of Flowers and Insects of Spring and Fall] by Yamamoto Baiitsu

Spring [left of a pair of Flowers and Insects of Spring and Fall] c. mid 19th century

ink, color-on-paper

water colours

japan

handmade artwork painting

ink

fluid art

color-on-paper

coffee painting

botanical drawing

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

botanical art

watercolor

warm toned green

"Spring [left of a pair of Flowers and Insects of Spring and Fall]," a mid-19th century work by the Japanese artist Yamamoto Baiitsu, depicts a blooming peony bush set against a soft background. The artist captures the delicate beauty of nature in intricate detail, with delicate brushstrokes rendering the velvety petals, vibrant leaves, and fluttering butterflies. This two-panel folding screen, showcasing the changing seasons, is a testament to Baiitsu's mastery of the Rinpa style, known for its exquisite floral motifs and vibrant colors. The screen is on display at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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A renowned scholar-painter in 19th century Japan, Yamamoto Baiitsu used the difficult "boneless" technique of applying pigment directly to the paper, without outlines, as a way to impart a palpable delicacy to leaves and petals. As demonstrated in these screens, he also was skilled at capturing nature's complicated profusion of vegetation. Unlike his predecessors, who had little firsthand knowledge of Chinese painting styles, Baiitsu had direct access to Ming dynasty bird-and-flower paintings, imported through the port at Nagasaki. Here, he acknowledged his debt to China by rendering the garden rocks in their blue-green manner.