Bamboo c. 19th century

Ōkubo Shibutsu painted this ink on paper piece, titled ‘Bamboo’, sometime between the late 18th and early 19th century. Shibutsu lived during the Edo period, a time of relative peace and flourishing of the arts in Japan, yet also a period defined by rigid social hierarchies. As a member of the samurai class turned artist, Shibutsu navigated the complex social landscape of his time. He moved through artistic and intellectual circles. This monochrome painting of bamboo, rendered with stark contrast against a dark background, evokes a sense of resilience and understated elegance. The bamboo, a symbol of moral integrity and flexibility in the face of adversity, resonates deeply with the values of the samurai class to which Shibutsu belonged. Its starkness perhaps reflects the artist’s personal negotiation of identity and artistic expression within the confines of tradition. The painting invites us to contemplate the interplay between societal expectations and personal agency.