Paper

Student Artwork Guide

Deutzia

Name Class Date

hon'ami kōetsu, Deutzia. Public domain.

The facts

Artist
hon'ami kōetsu originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/hon-ami-koetsu/
Artist’s dates
1558 – 1637
Original size
148 x 170 cm

In context

Deutzia — hon'ami kōetsu

How big is it?

The original measures 148 × 170 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When might this have been painted?

  1. 1550
  2. 1560
  3. 1570
  4. 1580
  5. 1590
  6. 1600
  7. 1610
  8. 1620
  9. 1630

Shaded: the lifetime of hon'ami kōetsu (1558–1637)

This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/hon-ami-koetsu-deutzia-D4J3LM-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Olive #826f17

    Catalogued palette

    • #826F17
    • #D7AA2A
    • #353F0E
    • #AF8E1F
    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Olive
    Intensity
    Vivid How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Gentle How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Unified Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Brilliant How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Vivid Color How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    About this artwork

    Deutzia — hon'ami kōetsu

    総金箔地に、初夏の花、卯の花が没骨(もっこつ)風に描かれ、その左上には新古今和歌集にある白河院の歌「卯華のむらむら咲るかきねをば雲間の月の影かとぞ見る。」と書かれている。本作が描かれた当初は、胡粉も鮮やかに白く、歌にいうとおりの美しさであったろう。 当時の人々にとって、描かれた花は季節感や形の美しさをあらわすものばかりではなく、それにまつわる歌や物語、故事をも同時に思い起こさせるものであった。琳派の画家がよく描くものの中で、燕子花(かきつばた)と『伊勢物語』の「東下り」との関係はもっとも有名な例である。とくに詩歌については、多くを暗誦していることが、上流階級やインテリに求められた最大の教養であったから、歌意を絵にしたものはかなり多く、絵画はわれわれが思う以上に、雅な知的遊びの世界であった。卯の花も古来「卯の花月夜」として親しまれたものである。 本作の書の末尾には「寛永の三筆」の一人、本阿弥光悦(ほんなみこうえつ)の黒文方印(こくぶんほういん)がある。光悦は、桃山から江戸初期の芸術家で、書家としては、宗達と組んで美麗な金銀泥下絵の和歌巻などを多数てがけた。この両者の関係の深いこと、卯の花は俵屋工房の得意の画題で、色紙や扇面に作例が残ることから、作者は宗達もしくはその工房の画人と考えられる。流麗な茎の線や葉のリズミカルな描写は、すぐれた技量を感じさせる。光悦の書風について、また、歌の書かれている左上のあたりだけひとまわり大きい金箔が使われていることなどは、ほかの例と比較して検討する必要があろう。

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    hon'ami kōetsu

    Born in Kyoto, Japan

    early life and influences

    hon'ami kōetsu, a celebrated japanese painter, was born in 1558 in kyoto, japan. his family, renowned for their expertise in sword polishing and connoisseurship, had served the imperial court and notable warlords of the sengoku period, including oda nobunaga and toyotomi hideyoshi.

    artistic contributions

    kōetsu's artistic journey began with his involvement in the rinpa school of painting, which he significantly influenced. his groundbreaking works, created during a time of warfare and political turmoil in japan, had a profound impact on japanese art. notably, kōetsu's collaboration with the painter tawaraya sōtatsu resulted in numerous decorated pieces.

    notable works and legacy

    poem by kamo no chōmei with underpainting of cherry blossoms (20 x 18 cm, silver), a testament to his early work as a calligrapher.

    his establishment of an artist community in takagamine, granted by tokugawa ieyasu in 1615, marked the beginning of a new era in japanese art.

    key art movement: the rinpa school of painting, which kōetsu inspired, is characterized by its use of mineral pigments and organic materials on silk or paper.

    museums and collections

    national museums liverpool (liverpool, united kingdom), featuring works like design for a fan by taki katei.

    the menard art museum in japan, housing an extensive collection of western art, including paintings, sculptures, and prints.

    artistic legacy: kōetsu's influence on japanese art is undeniable. his pioneering work in the rinpa school has inspired generations of artists, cementing his place in the annals of art history.

    references:

    hon'ami kōetsu on AllPaintingsStore.com.

    ogata kōrin on wikipedia, a notable artist influenced by kōetsu's work.

    conclusion:

    hon'ami kōetsu's profound impact on japanese art is a testament to his innovative spirit and artistic genius. his legacy continues to inspire artists and art enthusiasts alike, making him an integral part of japan's rich cultural heritage.

    Where to read more

    • The artist hon'ami kōetsu originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/hon-ami-koetsu/
    • Similar works More works to compare originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/hon-ami-koetsu-deutzia-D4J3LM-en/

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Deutzia

    originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/hon-ami-koetsu-deutzia-D4J3LM-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    kōetsu, hon'ami. Deutzia. n.d., https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/hon-ami-koetsu-deutzia-D4J3LM-en/
    APA
    kōetsu, hon'ami (n.d.). Deutzia [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/hon-ami-koetsu-deutzia-D4J3LM-en/
    Chicago
    hon'ami kōetsu. Deutzia. n.d. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/hon-ami-koetsu-deutzia-D4J3LM-en/
    Harvard
    kōetsu, hon'ami (n.d.) Deutzia. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/hon-ami-koetsu-deutzia-D4J3LM-en/

    Look closely

    Deutzia — hon'ami kōetsu

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Look back at Writing Box, Bugaku dance design in maki-e laquer (1600), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    4. What might the artist have wanted you to feel?
    5. If you could ask the artist one question about this work, what would it be?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.