Flowers and Insects
| Support Type: | Silk |
| Paint Type: | Ink |
| Current Location: | Nomura Museum of Art |
| Location History: | Painted by Yamamoto Baiitsu in 1836 during the late Edo period, Flowers and Insects (known in Japanese as Hyakka Hyakuchū-zu) was created while the artist was working and gaining major acclaim in Kyoto. The masterpiece entered the private collection of the Nomura Bunka Zaidan (Nomura Cultural Foundation), established by the prominent Nomura family. Today, the painting is permanently housed and preserved at the Nomura Art Museum in Kyoto, Japan. |
This artwork by famous Japanese painter Yamamoto Baiitsu (1783-1856), is a fine example of artistic mastery and fine elegance. The painting above presents a glimpse into his unique style of painting, which shows a continuity of some elements of old styles while fusing them with his own innovation. Unlike most of his contemporaries and predecessors, Yamamoto had direct access to paintings from Ming and Qing period of China through contacts with a wealthy patron and himself had a strong reputation as a 'Nanga' or 'literati' painter. However, instead of conforming to the old way of adherence to the imitation of Ming period Chinese art, he introduced a new style where ink was now used to give a flowing, soft touch to the object of art instead of just using it to lay the outlines. Also, in place of following the predominant anstract theme in paintings, Yamamoto makes a difference by capturing the natural flora and fauna in their place. This makes him stand out from other artists in Edo period Japan. His paintings showcase a brilliant combination of watery brushstrokes with a micro detailed essence with a soft background and delicate use of light and shade. It When viewed from eye of a layman viewer, Yamamoto's art, which give off a sense of vivid delicacy and soft serenity, stands in contrast to many widespread art forms and painting styles of his time which reflected bright richness and grand elegance represented in theme and object of the paintings. However, though Baiitsu painting represents depth and soul in the way his works capture the nature around, it lacks a realist, three-dimensional touch to them.